Entrusted

"Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you" 2 Timothy 1:14, NASB

Paul tells Timothy that he is to guard the treasure entrusted to him. In this verse, he also says that the Holy Spirit will help him to guard that treasure.  That treasure is the gift of Christ. It is the gift of faith that has been entrusted to him as a believer.  Timothy has the treasure of Christ and the calling as a teacher to pass on the truth of the Word of the Lord that has been entrusted to him. Paul reminds Timothy that he is not alone on this mission, God is with him.

In a world that is so full of people who do not want to trust Christ, it is comforting to know that God is still at work in our lives helping us to treasure His gift of eternal life, His everlasting love and the hope of His calling. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we know that we can share the good news of Christ with others. We can be true to our calling. Regardless of what they say or do, we can guard the treasure that has been entrusted to us.

Just like you, I have been involved in several recent conversations with those who deny Christ. I thank God that it is not my job to convince or convict them, but I can guard the treasure entrusted to me,

Lord, help me to share. Help me to guard your truth! Amen.

Teach the Word

"Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you" (2 Timothy 1:13-14, HCSB).

It is an honor to be able to teach and to speak the Word of God.

God sent Jesus to show us how to live, show us how to teach, and to save us from ourselves. God could have just sent the Bible, but He didn't. He sent Jesus - to show us the way.

God uses us to present the Word of God but He uses us to show others how to live, model how to teach, and to save us from ourselves. We must share the Word of God (Bible) in such a way that others can understand it. We must teach by using stories and examples just like Jesus did. We must show others, with our lives, how to live.

Whether we are doing a women's retreat, girls' retreat, or sharing Christ one-on-one, we are called to open up the Word of God in such a way that the hearer will understand it. We are to not only speak, but to live out what we are speaking about.

Lord, help me to hold to your pattern of teaching. Guard my life. Make me teachable. Help me to open up the Word of God so that others will understand it. Help me to live it out before them.