As Paul faces the end of his life in a cell in Rome, he writes to Timothy who has been pastoring in Ephesus for the past four years.
With the time he has left, Paul focuses on saying what needs to be said; on saying what really matters.
"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others". 2 Timothy 2:2
The things you’ve heard about Jesus in the presence of the many and the multitudes—entrust to reliable people, invest into a few.
The things you’ve heard about Jesus; the things you’ve heard about Jesus from the gospel; the things you’ve heard about Jesus from the gospel in the Old Testament Scriptures.
Paul tells Timothy to entrust the gospel to reliable people, to godly people, to people who love Jesus—people who look like Jesus and feel like Jesus, who know his gospel, and know his Word.
Entrust the gospel to reliable people who are qualified to teach others.
This is the best way of ministering.
It proclaims the gospel through the generations. It proclaims the gospel in a way that its influence and impact is multiplied.
At the same time, it seeks to protect the gospel; the gospel is precious and it needs to be entrusted to reliable, qualified people who are able to teach.
This is the hardest way of ministering.
Why? Our influence is less visible, our impact is seen over a longer period and therefore it doesn't seem as significant.
As the gospel grows and its influence increases, ours potentially diminishes.
It’s the hardest way of ministering because so many of our ministry models scream for impact NOW!
Can I invite you, in your spheres of influence, to be entrusting the gospel to those who can impart it to others?
