“Before we moved here,” Stan began, “I knew a fellow who had been named as a trustee to take care of the financial needs and well-being of a widow in our church.”
“What did that require him to do?” I asked.
“Manage the assets that had been entrusted to him, provide for the needs of the widow who was the beneficiary of the trust her husband had set for her before he died, that sort of thing.”
“Sounds like a lot of responsibility,” I replied.
“Yes,” Stan responded. “Being a trustee is a big deal. Unfortunately, in this instance, the trustee did not do a good job. He used some of the trust assets for himself, with the result that the needs of the widow could not be met.”
“Did he get in trouble?” I asked.
“Big time!” Stan replied. “And it reminds me of what the apostle Paul told Timothy in his first letter to him while Timothy was working with the church in Ephesus.”
“Paul wrote about being a trustee?” I replied.
“Not in the financial sense,” Stan responded, “but certainly in the sense of taking care of what had been entrusted to Timothy.”
“What had been entrusted to him?”
“Paul did not give Timothy a specific list,” Stan replied, “but I think there are a number of things that jump out, such as his salvation and redemption, his new life in Christ, the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life, and, of course, the whole matter of discipleship.”
“And,” he continued, “for me, the matter of guarding the discipleship that has been entrusted to me as a Christian is of extreme importance.”
“How do you guard discipleship?” I asked.
“For me,” Stan replied, “such guarding means that I have to continually choose to deny myself. And I have to continually take up my cross by being who and doing what God has for me. And, thirdly, I have to choose to continually follow Jesus wherever He wants to lead me, whatever the cost and whatever the direction.”
“Discipleship has been entrusted to me,” Stan concluded, “and I am to guard it with all of my being. Also, there is so much more that has been entrusted to me that I am supposed to guard, but those are other subjects for other days.”
____________________________________
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. I Timothy 6:20.
If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for what you have entrusted to me. With your help, and with my right choices, I know I will be who and what you intend. You have entrusted me with salvation and have told me to work out what you have worked in. Please help me. You have entrusted me with the presence of your Holy Spirit. Please help me in always being open to His wisdom, guidance, counsel, and everything He has for me. You have entrusted me with discipleship. Please help me to continually deny myself, take up the cross you have for me, and follow you wherever you want to lead, whatever the cost. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
_________________________________
Things to think (and journal) about:
- What strikes you as the biggest take-away from this devotional?
2. What does what you read say about God and about us as His people?
3. What is God saying to you to do personally?
4. Who can you share this with to make a difference?
_____________________________
Comments, questions, suggestions, and the like can be addressed to The Storyteller at: waiting4thetrain@gmail.com.
Waiting for the Train 