Commitment: Gaurding What Has Been Entrusted To Us (2 Timothy 1)
12:30 PM
Paul had such a fond
relationship with young Timothy. Timothy had been raised by a faith based
family and Paul wanted Timothy to value that faith based heritage and realize
that it was something he needed to cherish and protect. We, as Christians, have made a commitment of faith and what
applied to Timothy, applies to us also.
“For this reason I remind
you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of
my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
(6-7)
We have been given a “gift”
and that gift comes from God. Our duty is to “fan the flame”. In other words,
don’t let our spiritual power be dormant inside of us while we passively go
about our daily lives. We need to exercise and utilize that power by yielding
to God’s Spirit. It will be evident in our love for others, our love for God
and our Spirit guided self-control. Others should be able to see the Spirit of
God at work in our lives.
“Therefore do not be
ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in
suffering for the gospel by the power of God,” (1:8)
This part of our Christian
commitment may not be a popular one. No one wants to suffer under any
circumstances. But notice that this suffering has a very high purpose:it is “
for the gospel” and notice that we are not expected to endure trials on our
own. We share collectively as part of the body of Christ and because
we know that it is a matter of eternal purpose and that we are provided help to
do so. We are provided “ the power of God ” should we need to endure hardship
for His sake. He will always empower us to do His Will.
Paul tells Timothy that God
has entrusted each believer with His own special purposes and plans. Paul
trusts that God will provide whatever is required for His purposes and His Will
to be carried out.
“...But I am not ashamed,
for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard
until that day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound
words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ
Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit
entrusted to you.” (12-14)
Each of us is called to be
a committed Christian and together we form the unified body of Christ. We may
have our share of trials and hardships in living out that commitment but we are
never alone and God provides us the resources we need. We are all stewards of
our resources: our time, our possessions, our words, our actions, our talents,
our possessions, etc. In all that we have, we can honor God. Each of has been
gifted with His Holy Spirit. May we be faithful to the end to keep what He has
entrusted to us.
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