Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

GOOD DEPOSIT

December 24, 2010

A couple years ago I sat in a church on a weekday afternoon--hundreds in attendance. The first several rows filled with ministers and other church leaders--all there at the memorial service of one who'd made not just a good deposit in our lives but a deposit grounded in the Word of God.

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
- 2 Timothy 1:113,14 TNIV

Paul urges Timothy to hold tenaciously to the teaching of the gospel grounded in God's Word. Evidently there was much temptation (like today) to do otherwise. See the action: "keep as the pattern," "guard the good deposit," "guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit"--discipleship, growing in Christ, implies attentiveness to what we've been entrusted or given by others.

When many of us sat in that church that afternoon, we were grateful to our discipler, our mentor, for giving us that good deposit. And we know it's our job to keep the pattern and to guard it. This Christmas Eve, you've been given a gift as well. Be vigilant this day and the rest of your life, guard the good deposit--the life-giving news of Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson