God’s Word of Encouragement

In recent days, I have had the joy and privilege of studying through the book of II Timothy as it is the topic of the weekly women’s bible study that I teach at my church.  The book was written by the Apostle Paul to his beloved son Timothy at the end of his life.  It has a clear message of discipleship throughout the book and includes words of encouragement, instruction, warning and challenge.  As I have been studying it in my quiet time with the Lord I have been very struck by two verses found in chapter 1:13-14 in which Paul instructs Timothy to…

“Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you”.

As I meditated on these verses, it struck me that as we communicate the gospel to others it is not by our ability to communicate it that makes it effective but rather what God is doing and how He has equipped us.  He is the giver of faith and love and He left us the Holy Spirit which dwells in us and who will allow us to guard the treasure of the gospel which has been entrusted to us as believers, but is the only thing that can transform a life.

I began to consider the importance of that in my own heart and life and how vital it is to regard this precious gospel as the treasure that it is.  I asked myself if I was doing that or if ministry had become more of a job in the “busyness” of everyday life than a stewardship given to me by God.  Was I regarding this gospel of Jesus Christ as a treasure and was I communicating it with “the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus?”

Not two days later in 3 separate instances, I was randomly contacted by women who had come through our program.  Each of them contacted me for different reasons but in every conversation I heard them clearly state that they had never experienced the love of God the way that they had experienced it during their time in our program.  Each of them had come to Christ while in our program and is continuing to press on in their faith.

What a glorious word of encouragement!  Thank you Lord for encouraging my heart as your word reminds me again that the gospel of Jesus Christ is a treasure that has been entrusted to us to share with all because it is still transforming lives daily.

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Nancy Dore
Director of New Faith Program
for Women and Children

Categories: Perry's Blog