Keep It Safe by Giving It Away—Two2Grow, June 2
Keep It Safe by Giving It Away—Two2Grow, June 2
“Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” 2 Timothy 1:14 NIV
When I was in junior high school, we went on a family vacation to Italy and visited St. Mark’s Square, famous not just for its spectacular buildings but also for the many pickpockets who prey on tourists. We had been warned, and as the responsible son I was, I took it upon myself to keep a sharp eye on my mother’s handbag. But when we got back to the hotel, we realized her bag was empty!
Fun fact: several years later, the Italian police contacted her and said they had found her driver’s license. The only time I can think of when I wasn’t watching it was for a very short moment when she took a photo of the whole family by the fountain.
We have something way more precious to keep watch over than a handbag—we have been given the gift salvation and the call to carry the good news of Jesus to the world. The devil will do what he can to steal what we have been given. So how do you guard it?
God’s kingdom works very differently from the world. In the world, the best way to keep something is to hold fast to it. But in God’s way of doing things, the best way to guard what you have been given is to give it away! And the more you share, the more you’ll have and the safer it will be (see Luke 9:24).
I have seen this many times: those who keep Jesus for themselves grow weak and, sadly, often turn away from Him later in life, while the people who share Jesus with others grow stronger.
Is there someone the Lord has placed a burden for on your heart? Reach out to them today with the good news. The Holy Spirit will anoint you with power to share what God has given you; when you do, it will grow and be safe.
I have a person on my heart that I’m thinking of right now, and I plan to write a letter to share the gospel with them—that’s my way of guarding the treasure of Jesus.
Holy Spirit, help me not keep the gospel to myself but to share it with others. Lead me today to people who need what You have given me, and give me the boldness to act.
Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD
When I was in junior high school, we went on a family vacation to Italy and visited St. Mark’s Square, famous not just for its spectacular buildings but also for the many pickpockets who prey on tourists. We had been warned, and as the responsible son I was, I took it upon myself to keep a sharp eye on my mother’s handbag. But when we got back to the hotel, we realized her bag was empty!
Fun fact: several years later, the Italian police contacted her and said they had found her driver’s license. The only time I can think of when I wasn’t watching it was for a very short moment when she took a photo of the whole family by the fountain.
We have something way more precious to keep watch over than a handbag—we have been given the gift salvation and the call to carry the good news of Jesus to the world. The devil will do what he can to steal what we have been given. So how do you guard it?
God’s kingdom works very differently from the world. In the world, the best way to keep something is to hold fast to it. But in God’s way of doing things, the best way to guard what you have been given is to give it away! And the more you share, the more you’ll have and the safer it will be (see Luke 9:24).
I have seen this many times: those who keep Jesus for themselves grow weak and, sadly, often turn away from Him later in life, while the people who share Jesus with others grow stronger.
Is there someone the Lord has placed a burden for on your heart? Reach out to them today with the good news. The Holy Spirit will anoint you with power to share what God has given you; when you do, it will grow and be safe.
I have a person on my heart that I’m thinking of right now, and I plan to write a letter to share the gospel with them—that’s my way of guarding the treasure of Jesus.
Holy Spirit, help me not keep the gospel to myself but to share it with others. Lead me today to people who need what You have given me, and give me the boldness to act.
Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD