Entrusted with the Gospel

	But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

—1 Thessalonians 2:4

As believers we have the sacred trust of the gospel message. Jesus has given us our command to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). Everyone is called to do that. Everyone should get the gospel out.

In his letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul mentioned "the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to [his] trust" (1 Timothy 1:11). Again emphasizing the sacred trust of the gospel, Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 2 that "we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts" (verse 4).

Here is what it means. As Christians we all have the same gospel. And we each have to ask ourselves the question, "How am I getting the gospel out?" It is not about how someone else is getting the gospel out. How are we doing it? That is our call as followers of Jesus. We need to think about our family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and our sphere of influence and ask, "Am I getting the gospel out?"

Jesus said, "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work" (Revelation 22:12).

That reward will be directly connected to how faithful we were in this life. We place far too much stock in this life alone. We act as though everything that is going to happen happens here. A lot of significant things do happen here. The most important decision we ever will make happens in this life: the decision about what we do with Jesus Christ.

Our faithfulness here will result in rewards there—in heaven and when heaven comes to earth, when we go home.

~Greg Laurie~