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The Good that is Entrusted to Us
Mari Ikeda
A. The joy of inheriting faith (3-5)
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
B. What it means to inherit faith
1. Fan the flame of the Holy Spirit (6-7)
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
2. God calls us on a journey without revealing the destination (8)
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
3. Remember that we are part of God’s plan (9-10)
9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
4. Proclaim our trust in Jesus (11-12)
11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
5. Guard what has been entrusted to us with the help of the Holy Spirit (13-14)
13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Summary
We have been given the joy of loving Jesus and loving each other. This privilege is not something we earned but something we are given by the grace of God. God’s grace doesn’t change even when our suffering and the suffering of our loved ones makes it difficult to be joyful. In order to share in each other’s suffering and to hold on to God’s grace even in the midst of suffering, we need to rely on the Holy Spirit. With the help of the Holy Spirit, let us fan the flame of love for Jesus and our love for one another.
For Discussion
- What does it mean for you to inherit the faith? How does that impact how you live?
- What specifically does it mean to rely on the Holy Spirit to fan the flame of faith?