… trust those who taught you.” 2 Timothy 3:14
nlt
The Kerusso – January | 2021 Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”
International General Superintendent’s Word for this year When I stepped into the role of International General Superintendent in July of 2018, I felt a clear direction from the Lord to center myself and my leadership stance on one particular key word that He elevated in my spirit, and that was the word “Collaborate.” I felt the Lord drawing me to be a patient listener, seeking the counsel of our pastors and lay people, knowing that the Holy Spirit would be spreading leadership wisdom across many shoulders as we work together toward maturity in Christ organizationally. To encourage and emphasize collaboration, the phrase we incorporated into all of our Journey meetings in 2019 was, “We go further together.” Then in 2020, the word I felt impressed to use as a guide and reminder was the word “Family.” There is a real difference in how families do relationship. Family members hold tightly to each other in tough times, and are intensely loyal. Family members go the extra mile to look out for, and protect one another. And in the context of family, concepts and strengths such as encouragement, fellowship, accountability and respect take on even higher meanings. And in a year that forced us to be more separated than we would have wanted, it was an especially important lesson that no matter what tries to come between us as brothers and sisters, we are bound together by something that cannot be broken by any outside force, and that is LOVE. For 2021, the word I have felt drawn to focus on is “Trust.” And right there in the middle of the English word “trust” sits another word, “us.” All three of these words, “collaboration,” “family,” and “trust” infer relationship. The ministry of Jesus was all about relationships. The apostles carried on this emphasis, making clear to the early church that interdependence was not optional, but essential. God did not create us to be ‘lone rangers.’ He created us to live, love, serve, and work together. One key ingredient in all healthy relationships is trust. God Himself is consummately relational. He leads us to build relationships with others and to partner together for His glory. The Apostle Paul was integrated into the early church on the ground of trust. Paul had been a vicious enemy, persecuting many believers before his surrender to Christ, so trusting him was neither easy nor natural. But God hasn’t asked us to trust only when it is easy. He asks us to trust one another through the power of the Holy Spirit who is shaping and molding each of us. Paul turned that invested trust into a great deal of fruit. One of his many protégés was Timothy. Paul explicitly challenged Timothy to trust him, and all those from whom he was learning God’s truth. (2 Timothy 3:14 nlt)
~ Max Edwards
I’ll be talking and writing a great deal about TRUST as we move through 2021.
“But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught