As Paul’s pen scurried across parchment and papyrus, repeated glimpses of an amazing story have emerged. No, I am not writing about God’s love toward us in sending his Son to forgive our guilt. We have much more than mere glimpses into that astounding story. I am referring to the simple fact that God has entrusted people with his message.
Consider humanity’s record. Even with the simplest of instructions, such as “don’t eat of that tree,” humanity has messed it up. In that case, bad information distorted the perception of truth. Subsequently trust in God’s message was abandoned simply because someone said, “eat this.” In view of our track record, is it not astounding that God has entrusted the most important message ever into human hands?
Across the pages of Paul’s writings, the ink from his pen flowed into words and sentences revealing the treasure. “Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. … it came to me by revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11-12). Regarding this message, Paul described it as “the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I was entrusted” (1 Timothy 1:11).
Paul instructed Timothy how this message should be handled, “Keep as the pattern of wholesome teaching what you heard from me in the faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the precious deposit that was entrusted to you through the Holy Spirit … the things you have heard from me, through the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable men who will be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 1:13,14; 2:2). Accordingly Paul noted: “People ought to regard us as Christ’s servants and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. It is required that those who have been given a trust be found faithful. …. the one who judges me is the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2,4.
Several observations are worthy. Entrusting a message to someone points to the importance of the author’s content, thus an author-centered understand not a reader-centered one. In other words, what matters is what the original message was intended to communicate, not what I might think it means.
Second, this word from God is not our message. We are not free to fundamentally reshape the message according to our cultural values, tastes and preferences. Hence, value ought to be placed upon living out its teachings and working out its practical details within the boundaries the message creates .
Third, while people might still do whatever they desire with God’s word, in the end the Lord will judge our faithfulness and trustworthiness. Pursuing the commendation and approval of our Lord is what counts.
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