Lutheran Devotional 1st October 2025, Wednesday Message
TOPIC: Guarding the Good Deposit
SCRIPTURE READING: 2 Timothy 1:1a, 2a, 4b-6, 8-9a, 10-14
Please support 5dailydevotional.com so we can continue publishing impactful and uplifting content daily. GIVE HERE
Paul, … To Timothy, my beloved child … I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 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 … Therefore … share in suffering for the Gospel by the power of God, who saved us … because of His own purpose and grace … and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
Paul is suffering, but he is also joyful as he writes this letter. He encourages Timothy to do the same thing Paul is doing—namely, to “guard the good deposit” entrusted to them both. And God’s Holy Spirit has given you the same treasure to guard and to pass on to others—namely, the Good News of our Savior Jesus.
And make no mistake, it is a treasure—because this is the true story of how “our Savior Christ Jesus … abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” Even today, most of the world does not know this story; but we know it, and we do our best to share it with as many people as possible. Because it is the ultimate good news—that God Himself has come down into our death-ridden world to rescue us. Through His death Jesus destroyed death, and through His rising to life He has become the Source of life for everyone who trusts in Him, weak or strong, poor or rich. What better news could there be?
I’m writing this right now as I wait for the death of someone I love. I hate death; but I am so glad I don’t have to live as someone who has no hope. I know that Jesus is the Lord of all creation, and that through His death and resurrection He is redeeming all things and making them a new creation, where there will be no more death—and no more crying or sorrow or pain or grief. We suffer now, yes; but even now we have hope, for we have this treasure Jesus has given us; and we guard it and share it with others who need the same hope.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, help us to trust in You when we are grieving or afraid. You are the Lord who gives life to the dead, and keeps us safe in You forever. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- If someone deposits a treasure in your care, how do you treat it? Why?
- How do you cope when someone you love is dying?
- How does Jesus’ resurrection offer us a hope we can depend on?
Today’s Readings:
Lutheran Devotional 1st October 2025 was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
