influences the way we pass on the gospel to others. In a similar vein, 2 Timothy 2:2 encourages believers to “entrust to reliable people” the godly principles we’ve discovered and the ways we’ve learned to live out our faith on a daily basis. This word entrust does not imply that we should force people to respond to our message. It literally invitation rather than a requirement. And the passage in Timothy also defines the people we should invite. It says “reliable people.” Some translations say “faithful” people. God does not call us to produce specific outcomes. Rather, He calls us to be faithful and even intentional in giving the invitation, and then trust Him to bring about the desired results. 17 Wednesday—July 5•Entrusting the Gospel to Reliable People For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:3–4) Today’s passage talks about being “approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.” The message of salvation is a gift from God that deserves our respect. It purifies our motives and means “to set before.” It’s like setting a table and then asking people to come and eat. It’s an 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “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.” If you were explaining this to a new believer, how would you define the words entrust and reliable? Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 1:1–2:17, Acts 23:11–35, Psalm 3:1–8, Proverbs 18:14–15 Thursday—July 6•God Values Faithfulness MIMBS 1 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2) Based on four decades of experience in business and ministry, the most unpredictable aspect of my career has been discerning who would finish what they started. Sometimes people make promises, even with tears in their eyes, but then I never see them again. Most of us can define what a faithful person looks like, because we know it’s the opposite of what we’ve experienced. God tells us He values faithfulness over ability. Dwight L. Moody was a great evangelist in the 1800s. Moody once heard a man say, “The world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to him.” Moody decided to be “that man.” He didn’t aspire to be a great man, or an educated man, or a rich man, or a wise man or an eloquent man. He was just a man, willing to be consecrated. Moody committed himself to be faithful to the trust he received through Jesus. As a result, he became one of the strongest evangelistic voices of the 19th century, not just in the United States, but around the world. MIMBS 1 Think of someone you would describe as “faithful.” List three actions you’ve seen that person do to support that description. Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 2:18–4:4, Acts 24:1–27, Psalm 4:1–8, Proverbs 18:16–18
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