Category Archives: Trustworthy

Bible, Entrust, Heart, Obedience, Scripture, Sin, Slaves, Trustworthy

HANDED OVER

ROMANS 6:17

“But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were entrusted,”

Have you ever been given something by someone and asked to keep it safe? Perhaps it was a rare coin or piece of jewelry. It could even be a child that needs your temporary care. Some things are handed over to law enforcement due to a crime. Other things or people are handed over to cause them harm. We all know the horrible stories told concerning human trafficking.

Paul uses a Greek word that is translated “were entrusted” to show us just how close and personal this is in our lives. The word is paradídōmi. HELPS Word-studies defines it this way, “(from pará, ‘from close-beside and dídōmi, ‘give) – properly, to give (turn) over; ‘hand over from,’ i.e. to deliver over with a sense of close (personal) involvement.” Let’s take a closer look at how this word is used in the New Testament.

APPLICATION

In Matthew 18:24 this word is used by Jesus in His story about the slave who owed 10,000 talents. “And his master, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he would repay all that was owed him.” In this use of the word, being handed over was not a good thing. The torturers were given complete power over this wicked servant. Paradídōmi is also the word used to describe how Judas “betrayed” the Lord into the hands of the Jewish leaders.

The Topical Lexicon describes the use of paradídōmi this way. “Whether used of a traitor, a judge, an apostle, or God Himself, the word always carries the sober idea that what is ‘delivered up’ passes irrevocably into another’s control.” So, how is Paul using paradídōmi in today’s verse? He is telling us that we have been handed the teachings of Christ. We have control of them. But is that the case for everyone?

Yes, all followers of Christ receive His teachings, but how many of them actually follow and use them? I have met too many church-going men who knew all about Jesus and the Bible but chose not to obey. To have been entrusted with something means we protect it, to watch over it. Are you doing that today? It has been entrusted to you. How trustworthy are you?

Lord, I am so grateful for the teachings I have received. Please help me live them out daily.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Faith, Faithfulness, Scripture, Trustworthy

FAITHFUL

COLOSSIANS 1:2

To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

What does it mean to be “faithful”? In marriage it means to not cheat on your spouse with someone else. It means to stay by their side no matter what may happen. At work it may mean to stay with your employer through hard times knowing all they have done for you in the past. So, being faithful can have a lot of meanings.

What did Paul mean here in verse 2 of Colossians 1? What made these brothers and sisters faithful? Notice that Paul does not address this epistle to the church. He addressed it to individuals, probably those whom he knew firsthand. They had proven themselves faithful against the pagan influences of their day. They were loyal to Christ despite the evil all around them. It is to them that Paul writes.

APPLICATION

Throughout Scripture, believers are called faithful and are called to their faith. Here’s another question for you. Do you think others would consider you faithful? Hmmm! That may take some pondering on your part. We see over in Titus 1:6 that an elder should be “faithful to his wife.” That makes sense, right?

Gill’s Exposition of the Bible describes these “faithful” believers this way. “true and sincere believers in Christ, constant and persevering in the faith of him; faithful to the Gospel, and their profession of it, and to Christ, whose name they bore, and to one another, to whom they stood in the relation of brethren…” Looking at that description, could that be said about you?

We should all strive to be faithful to Jesus in all things. There’s no doubt about that. But if you fall, if you sin, does that make you unfaithful. I think not. We are to try to be like Jesus, even though we will never be just like Him. He knows us all too well and loves us anyway. Aren’t you glad? So, go out today and be faithful.

Father, give me faith to move mountains but also faith in the little things.

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Bible, Body, Falsehoods, Freedom, Trust, Trustworthy, Truth

STOP THAT LYING

EPHESIANS 4:25

“Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, because we are parts of one another.”

Boy, I remember growing up with three siblings. There were always lies flying around. “Who broke that?” “It was Tim.” “Who didn’t take out the trash?” “Cheryl was supposed to do that.” I could continue, but you get the picture. There was no way I was going to own up to something that I could possibly get away with. Lying was like breathing, lol. Yea, those were small lies, but they were still lies and once caught (and I almost always was), I got the expected consequence, a spanking (yep, my parents believed in that).

The Ephesian believers had been immersed in a pagan culture for years. Now they are new creations in Christ which demanded a different lifestyle. Lying was customary in paganism. Honesty was rare. That bad habit, that lifestyle had to go. The word “falsehood” is pseudos, which literally means a lie, an untruth. Paul is telling them that because they are part of each other now in the body of Christ, truth must be practiced.

APPLICATION

John uses this word pseudos in 1 John 2:21 and 27. “I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.” “And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him remains in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you remain in Him.” Truth is important. Jesus called Himself the truth, didn’t He? Therefore, I can’t imagine Him approving of our lying.

Over in Romans 1:25, Paul talks about the danger of lies. “For they exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” You see, the opposite of truth is falsehood. If you are not practicing the truth, you are practicing falsehood. We must live in the truth.

The next time you are tempted to lie about something, remember this verse. Remember how Jesus called Himself the truth. Remember what God requires. Remember you are part of the body of Christ. Walk in the truth and then you will be walking with Jesus.

The truth will surely set me free. Thank You, Father, for giving me the truth.

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Abundance, Belief, Bible, Blessing, Eternal Life, Eternity, Pledge, Promises, Scripture, Trustworthy

FIRST INSTALLMENT

EPHESIANS 1:14

“who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

I currently have one installment loan that I am responsible for. When I moved to Knoxville, TN back in March, my wife and I had to borrow money to buy our home. That loan is an installment loan. Any type of loan you borrow all at once and repay in smaller increments is an installment loan. I will be paying on this house until I go to heaven or Jesus returns (whichever comes first, lol).

Paul uses this word three times in his letters – here, 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5. Only he uses it in the New Testament. I love how Albert Barnes explains this Greek Word, arrabón. “God thus gives to his people the assurance that they shall be saved; and by this “pledge” makes their title to eternal life sure.” The installment payment God made was His Holy Spirit. We have a little taste of heaven by being indwelt with His Spirit.

APPLICATION

Let’s look at the other two occurrences of that word. 2 Corinthians 1:22 says, “who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.” In the same letter, Paul says this in 5:5, “Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a pledge.” This word was a common term used in business transactions. It was a promise of future payment. This pledge or first payment was meant to show you were good for the rest.

Aren’t you glad we know our God is good for the rest? His promises are sure. He will never fail us. He has promised us so much, but the best is an eternity with Him. Can you imagine? No more alarm clocks waking you up to go to work. No more bills to pay. No more aches and pains. No more…you fill in the blank. We will have a lot of “no mores,” but we will also have a lot of “so much mores.”

Take a minute and thank God for His gift of the Holy Spirit in your life as a believer. Thank Him for convicting you of sin.  Thank Him for uttering our deepest pains when we can’t find the words. Thank Him for His guidance through difficult situations. Thank for this pledge of our inheritance.

Father, You have promised us so much and given us this pledge as a reminder.

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Authentic, Bible, Commands, Deception, Disciples, Following, Love, Scripture, Trustworthy, Truth

AUTHENTICITY

GALATIANS 6:11

“See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!”

Call me a little crazy, but the first thing I thought of when I read this verse was the story of “Little Red Riding Hood.” You know, when Little Red Riding Hood remarked at what large ears, eyes, hands and mouth the wolf had. They looked very different than her grandmother’s, so Little Red Riding Hood noticed. Some things are just obvious.

Paul wanted to make sure the Galatians knew he had written this letter and not someone else. Scholars vary on why Paul wrote these words. Some say it was because he had bad eyesight, so he had to write large. Others say it was because he had difficulty writing the Greek letters. Still others say he was referring to the length of the letter. For whatever reason, this marked this letter as being authentic.

APPLICATION

I have a signed poster from Herschel Walker, the great running back of the 80’s at the University of Georgia. Someone told me I should get it authenticated. There are people out there who do that. We have someone in our lives, as believers, who authenticates us. In John 15:8, Jesus tells us if we are producing fruit we will be proven disciples. “‘My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.’” The Greek word translated as “prove to be” means to come into existence. We are authenticated as we come into existence, as we prove to be His disciples.

We are also authenticated by our love. In 1 John 4:8 we are told, “The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” How many people do you know who say they love God but hate people. They hold grudges against people. They refuse to forgive people. God’s Word says clearly that our love for others is a sure sign of being His. It authenticates us.

Keeping God’s commandments also shows the world we are authentic believers. Also in 1 John, we find this in chapter 3 and verse 24, “The one who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” So, the question is “Are you authentic?” Are you who you say you are?

Father, I want all who see me see me as an authentic follower of Christ.

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Belief, Bible, Entrust, Faith, God's Will, Loyalty, Scripture, Trustworthy

ENTRUSTED

GALATIANS 2:7

“But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised”

To be entrusted with anything is a great responsibility. When the Lord gave my wife and I our two children, we both felt that He had entrusted them into our care. They have never “belonged” to us. They are His, entrusted to us for a season. It is our prayer that we did the Lord proud by the way we loved them, taught them and raised them to honor Him. There is probably no greater entrustment than that.

Paul uses the Greek word pisteuówhich is translated “entrusted.” Pisteuócomes from the word pistis (faith) which comes peitho (to be persuaded). Okay, you’ve had your Greek lesson for today, lol. But look at those words. What do you see now that Paul was trying to get across. God had shown faith in Paul, had been persuaded by his changed life and now had entrusted him with the Gospel to the uncircumcised.

APPLICATION

What has God entrusted you to do? I truly believe every believer has been entrusted with a mission. Whether they accept it is another story. God has entrusted me with a ministry to men through Every Man A Warrior. I truly love what I do. When I see men’s lives transform and become the spiritual leaders of their homes, it gives me joy. 2 Timothy 2:2 is a verse our ministry teaches to our men to show spiritual multiplication. “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.” You may have been entrusted with a ministry to the homeless or to unwed moms or with addicts. Whatever it is, embrace it.

Over in 2 Timothy 2:12 and 14, we see Paul talk about entrusting again. This time he uses another Greek word which means “a deposit, a trust or thing consigned to one’s faithful keeping: used of the correct knowledge and pure doctrine of the gospel, to be held firmly and faithfully, and to be conscientiously delivered unto others” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). “12 For this reason I also suffer these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to protect what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 14 Protect, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”

I believe that as we entrust ourselves to God, as we place our faith in His promises, He begins to entrust us with His desires for our lives. It is all about belief. It is all about faith. What do you entrust with your life? Who do you entrust with your future? Only Jesus can be trusted to hold you close.

I place my trust in You, O Lord. Thank You for trusting me with the message You have given me.

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