1 Timothy 6:20-21 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. English Standard Version (ESV)
Today's verses are Paul's final words of Paul's first letter to pastor Timothy, calling upon him to "guard the deposit" to hold to the things that he had been taught and had been entrusted to him, the word, the nuts and bolts of his faith.
Then as now people would come into the church with motives of "growing the church", measuring its success in numbers. While a church should grow in number and increase the number of people being reached they must never turn away from their roots, the Word of God. A.W. Tozer writes, "The temptation to modify the teachings of Christ with the hope that larger numbers may "accept" Him is cruelly strong in this day of speed, size, noise, and crowds. But if we know what is good for us, we'll resist it with every power at our command." The Size of the Soul, 117-119.
Tozer spoke of "this day of speed, size, noise and crowds" back in the early 60's. Imagine what he would think today's supersonic speed, super size, and the ever increasing decibel level of our culture which thrives on and looks for faster, bigger, and louder. As a church and as individuals, we are not to be caught up in that. Sure there will be some new methods, variations in music, but the root, the basic teachings of God's Word must remain true and held onto.
My daily reading in the Psalms this morning ended with the following verses from Psalm 119 which is all about God's Word.
Psalm 119:15-16I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word. English Standard Version (ESV)
Whether we are a pastor, a lay leader in our church, leading a Bible study or teaching Sunday School may we "guard the deposit" entrusted to us and continue to "fix our eyes" and "delight" in God's Word as we study, meditate and share His Word. -- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
1 Timothy 6:17-21The Message (MSG)
17-19 Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.
20-21 And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith.
Overwhelming grace keep you!
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