Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.

2 Timothy 1:14 NLT

Over the years, I have been gifted many varieties of flowers and plants by my mother-in-law, Joyce, which beautify my yard. That I knew nothing about growing things never deterred her. Whenever she came to my house, she would bring cuttings or thinnings from her garden.

Thankfully, Joyce shared pointers with me. “Just scratch the dirt and plant these seeds.” “Did a hole twice as big as the rootball.” “Water when it is dry and fertilize every week or two.”

Joyce arrived at my door a couple of years ago with a pot of bulbs in tow. She had dug them from her garden to share. As I took them she said, “These are amaryllis bulbs my dad grew.” My husband and I had been married over thirty years and I had never met her father because he passed away long before we married.

And you’re giving them to me? I thought. “How old are these?” I asked.

“Oh, probably fifty years.”Fifty years? I had come a long way through her tutelage but didn’t feel equipped to take on that responsibility. Nevertheless, she confidently left them in my care.

The aging apostle Paul entrusted his younger charge, Timothy, with something much more important--the treasure of the truth of the gospel. People were trying to add and take away from the simple truth of salvation through faith in Jesus. Timothy’s trust was to keep the truth alive and pure. We are given that same responsibility.

Guard [with greatest care] and keep unchanged, the treasure [that precious truth] which has been entrusted to you [that is, the good news about salvation through personal faith in Christ Jesus], through [the help of] the Holy Spirit who dwells in us (2 Timothy 1:14 AMP).

The amaryllis are still living; however, Joyce is now in heaven. I’m hoping my children will guard the bulbs but, even more so, the precious truth entrusted to them.

Terri