Approximate Reading time: 2 minutes
1 Timothy 6:20 (TLV) 20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, turning away from pointless chatter and the contradictions of so-called knowledge— source
O (fill in your name), guard what has been entrusted to you, turning away from pointless chatter and the contradictions of so-called knowledge— What has been entrusted to me? What has been entrusted to you? Our answers may vary as we mature in our journey, but I can think of two gifts (so far) that each repentant sinner who has placed faith in Christ has received.
A new heart.
Ezekiel 36:26 (KJV) 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. source
And to further confirm:
Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. source
The Ministry of Reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5: 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. source
I think we can safely dovetail The Great Commission with this Ministry of Reconciliation to confirm our entrustment of sharing the Gospel of Salvation with others.
So how do we guard these priceless gifts? And from what do we guard them?
An old principle comes to mind: Use it or lose it.
Could we say, guarding our heart would be tantamount to exercising our new heart so that it does not become weak and sickly? If we exercise our hearts will we not build muscles of faith, trust, and love —? I think we could name all the fruits of the Spirit right here. Galatians 5:22-23. May I say if these fruits are not steadily increasing in us, we are not well guarding our hearts? Ouch!
And if we are not well guarding our heart, how well can we guard our Ministry of Reconciliation? How well can we demonstrate and speak the Gospel of Salvation to the world with a weak, sickly, offended, unforgiving, wounded, bruised, beat-up heart?
Forgiveness that leads to healing – it truly must be my Word for 2018.
The White Stone 