Using what God gave Us

Read 2 Timothy 1.

According to 1 Corinthians 12, every believer in Jesus has been gifted by the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord effectively.  Paul encouraged Pastor Timothy by reminding him of the foundations of the faith and his stewardship of what God had given to him.

Timothy had been blessed with a godly heritage.  But the faith of someone else will never suffice for us to be pleasing God.  This chapter contains the core of what it means to live as a true follower of Christ.

1. He saved us and called us. (v.9)
No one experiences God's forgiveness and receives eternal life by their own doing or willfulness.  Salvation is a free gift of God's grace solely because of individual faith in Christ.  This was God's plan all along.  It is a "holy calling" from the Lord when a person understands and responds to the Gospel message.  An individual's salvation fulfills God's "own purpose".  He has a plan and a purpose for each individual life.  "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works..." (Ephesians 2:10)

2. He appointed us. (v.11)
God has an assignment for each of us.  Paul's appointment was to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.  1 Corinthians 12 makes it clear that believers are sovereignly given different gifts, different ways in which we use our gifts, and different opportunities to employ those gifts.  In other words, everyone is not the same.  It is the responsibility of the believer to discover how God has made them and complete their assignment where God has placed them.

This does not come naturally.  Paul had to remind Timothy to "fan into flame the gift of God" (v.6).  It is our job to build upon what God has started.  If we are fearful and lack confidence in moving forward in serving Christ, understand that such fear does not come from the Lord (v.7).  Literally, the Greek word is cowardice.  What the Holy Spirit has provided instead, and will be evident when we submit to Him, is His power, His love, and His ability in our self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

3. He entrusted us. (v.12)
All of these provisions from God become a personal stewardship.  He is the Owner.  We are the managers of what He has given to us.  Paul's situation at this writing was an embarrassment to some.  He was in prison.  He could have been overcome with depression due to being so limited and accomplished nothing.  What refreshed his hope was the strong truth that God was in control of his circumstances.  On that day when he would stand before the Lord and give an account of his stewardship, it would be with confidence.  "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."  Paul recognized that God had placed him there for a reason and he would use the time to do what he could to further the Gospel.  Indeed, while incarcerated, he wrote multiple books of the New Testament and shared the message with untold numbers of people he would have never met otherwise.

These things are trusts that God has allowed us to enjoy for the eternal benefit of others.  The question is, "What are we doing today with what God has given to us?"