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Guard the Gift!
John Danganan"By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you." - 2 Timothy 1:14
We guard things that hold value to us. We guard our homes and lock our doorsat nightbecause the safety and health of our families are valuable. We guard and arm our alarmsour cars because they are valuable to us in our transportation. We even guard and screen lock our phones becausefinancial information and privacy are valuable to us. Paul tells Timothy that there has been a good deposit that has been entrusted to him and it’s value is worth guarding and protecting. This good deposit I believe is the “gift of God” that he is to "fan into flame" which he received through the laying of hands (1:6). In other words, Timothy is to guard and protect his anointing, spiritual gift and ministry calling. The means through whichhe is to guard his anointing is through the strength, power and the agency of the Holy Spirit—not his own might, self discipline or effort.
- 2:1, “You then, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” — Stand strong in the gospel of God’s grace! I can never earn or work forhis gift upon my life. Transfer from my head to my heart that I am fully loved, forgiven and accepted solely on the merit of Christ’s righteousness.
- 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God, as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth”— Be diligent in the study, preparation and exegesisof God’s word! Be accountable and work hard "before the face of the Lord” (Ante faciem domini)
- 2:21, “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” — Be quick to confess and repent! A lifestyle of confession before God is a life of honor, holiness, usefulness in the kingdom
