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 1:13-14

Paul’s personal testimony (vs 8–12) begins with a confession that God saved him and called him ‘to a holy life’ (v 9). The next part of this verse picks up his central theme in Romans: ‘not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace … given us in Christ Jesus.’ Grace is central to his theology; only through grace can we be united with Christ. This hidden grace has now been revealed to the human race ‘through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus’ (v 10). At his first coming, Christ destroyed death through his own death on the cross. Paul was appointed ‘a herald and an apostle and a teacher’ (v 11) and his preaching of the gospel had cost him much in suffering and persecution, but he trusted in the God who called him.

Paul admonishes Timothy to keep the ‘pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus’ (v 13). Doctrine is to be lived and proclaimed with faith and love. Paul had entrusted preaching and teaching to Timothy. This goal could not be accomplished in one’s own human strength, but only ‘with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us’ (v 14). Are you guarding what God has given you? Pray for missionaries who often feel alone and deserted, that God will comfort them and encourage them in his strength.

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, I commit my abilities, my strengths, and my weaknesses to you to use as you choose—all for the sake of the gospel.

(From Encounter with God)