Since we belong to the Faith Family we should act like it! 2 Timothy 1
Paul opens his second letter to Timothy, by telling him he longs to see him and that he’s praying for him night and day. He says that he serves God as his forefathers did and that he’s reminded of the faith that was in Timothy’s mother and grandmother. Both came from families of believers who served God and Paul reminds himself and Timothy of their roots and their identity.
Then Paul instructs Timothy to ‘Fan into Flame’ the gift that is in him through the laying on of hands. I asked yesterday if some of us have dormant gifts, given to us by God’s Spirit that we need to reignite? Fires in the natural can take time to get going but eventually they will ignite and blaze up as we work at it. We may need to work at those dormant gifts to ‘Fan them into Flame’, but God never takes His gifts back;
29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Romans 11:29
God’s gifts are given to equip us to fulfil our life’s calling, they’re essential, not optional. They have been tailored to suit us individually, a perfect fit for our service in this life. The things we do in the Church body that give us pleasure, may well be the places we are called to serve!
6 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. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1
Paul follows his instruction to ‘Fan into Flame the gift of God’ with another statement, not to give way to fear. (It’s supposed to be written 365 times in the Bible, one for each day, ‘Fear Not’). God wants us to stubbornly resist and overcome any fear that would hinder us from fulfilling His Call on our lives.
For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, DOES NOT WANT YOU TO BE AFRAID OF PEOPLE, BUT TO BE WISE AND STRONG, AND TO LOVE THEM and enjoy being with them. 2 Timothy 1:7 TLB
GOD DOESN’T WANT US TO BE SHY WITH HIS GIFTS, BUT BOLD AND LOVING AND SENSIBLE. 2 Timothy 1:7 MSG
The same message is repeated in slightly different wording near the end of Proverbs 29;
25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
Paul encouraged Timothy to be bold and exercise the gift God had given him. If God’s Spirit is calling you to step up again into His service, please heed His Call. He will help you to come through to victory and be useful for the Kingdom.
God bless and keep you today.