“By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” 2 Timothy 1:14 (ESV)
The blank screen on my desk taunts me. I hear whispers from the Enemy, “You will never be good enough. No one wants to read what you write.” I wonder, why bother even trying? I want to sit on the couch, zone out, and watch a movie so I don’t have to think about what to write. Instead, I pick up my phone and open my Bible app, desperate for some words from God. The words I read pierced my heart, “think of a time when you felt like giving up on something.” I pray, yes Lord, right now! I feel like giving up.
Then another word comes to my mind, entrusted. I am entrusted, just like Paul entrusted his protégé, Timothy, who was like a son to him. He exhorts Timothy in his personal letters, “guard the deposit entrusted to you” (1 Timothy 6:20 ESV).
Paul entrusted the truth of the Gospel to Timothy. Paul spent the last 30 years of his life sharing this truth with the world. The truth for which he suffered imprisonment, beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, danger, hardship, hunger, thirst, and more (2 Corinthians 11:23–27 ESV).
The book of 2 Timothy was the last one Paul wrote. We should heed the last words of Paul to Timothy and to us. He wrote, “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:14 ESV).
Paul used the Greek word parathéké three times in his letters to Timothy. This word means a deposit, anything committed to one’s charge or trust, just like a deposit for safekeeping in a bank or safe. When you deposit your money in a bank, the government guarantees it. Likewise, the promises of God in the Bible guarantee our deposit, the truth of the Gospel shared with others.
God entrusts us with the Gospel. But not only the Gospel, we are entrusted with our testimonies—how our lives reflect the life of Jesus. God calls us to share the truth of the Gospel by our testimony to show how God works miracles in our lives.
God uses broken people just like me, just like you. Before his conversion on the Road to Damascus, Paul zealously persecuted Christians, “he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3 ESV). But God chose me and you, just like He chose Paul and Timothy.
Instead of retreating to the couch to watch Netflix, I pray for the right words to share my story of how God saved me in so many ways.
God, through the Holy Spirit, supplies the words to share what Jesus means to us. Because we are entrusted to show others God’s extravagant love for them.
What story has God entrusted to you to share so others will see Jesus in you?
“They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” We are entrusted with a gift to not keep to ourselves. Thanks for reminding me of this and as a writer I can totally relate.
Thank you Kelli! I know you can relate. We need to keep encouraging other we are entrusted.
This really spoke to me. It’s difficult when we write and get little response. Difficult to even know if our social media platform, book, etc. is the best place to share our story. We pray for God to direct us and sit in the silence. I want you to know your words have helped me, today. I want God to show me where to settle in this big world of social media. I ask questions, do I start a blog, website, video, podcast, or what? One thing I do know. God has been preparing me for where he wants to… Read more »
Thank you for your comment, Darla. I appreciate you so much. We must keep trusting God with our calling.
Thank you for your gift and allowing God to use you in teaching his word, you are a blessing
Thank you for your encouragement, Ginny!
Good word! I want to be faithful to what God has entrusted to me. Thank you for the reminder. 😊
You are welcome, Carla! Thank you for your comment. We must keep encouraging each other.
A friend and I just finished studying the book of II Timothy, so this really resonated with me. Yes, we are where God intends us to be, and it is only through His working in us are we able to accomplish anything. May we allow God to work freely through us!
Thanks for your comment, Carly! I did Beth Moore’s study of 2 Timothy, and it was so good.
I believe God uses most the people on earth that don’t give up doing good in adversity.
Thank you for your comment, Tom. I appreciate your support of my blog!