2 Timothy 1:3-7 “I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 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. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
What a dynamic portion of scripture. These five verses are an incredible pep talk written by Paul to Timothy to encourage him to carry on. Timothy needs this pep talk because the torch is being passed and it’s time for Timothy to use his gift of ministry and persevere so the Church can survive and grow. If you’ve read 2 Timothy before, you probably recall that Paul wrote this letter from his second Roman imprisonment. His jail cell resembled more of a dungeon or a cave in the ground with no windows and a small hole in the ceiling where food was dropped down. It was poorly lit. It was cold and damp. He was chained to the wall and waiting . . . waiting to die. His execution was imminent, and it was in that moment that Paul began to write to his friend, a dear friend who was more like a son. Take some time to read the entirety of this letter and you’ll see that Paul is pouring out his heart; telling Timothy how much he loved him, encouraging him, building him up, and informing him that he is now in charge of the work that they had shared together.
I love how Paul made it clear that he was praying for Timothy; praying day and night. He encourages Timothy to be brave in the face of hardships. Paul is reminding Timothy that he comes from a great family of faith. His mother Eunice and grandmother Lois were great women of faith, and Paul sees that Timothy has followed in their footsteps. It’s time for Timothy to draw on his heritage of faith for strength and guidance in order to carry the torch of ministry that Paul is passing on to him. The gift that God has given Timothy is like a fire. It’s burning inside of him. Wow, what a powerful gift and Paul wants Timothy to develop this gift, not waste it. Paul wants Timothy to intensify the fire within him. Timothy was known for having a spirit of timidity. He was shy and sensitive. It was recorded that he wept when Paul had left him previously. Paul reminds Timothy that God has given him a new spirit. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
The torch is in your hands. What will you do? This powerful pep talk should not only be a reminder, but a motivator for you, for all of us, as we too can fan into flame the gifts that God has given us.
What a dynamic portion of scripture. These five verses are an incredible pep talk written by Paul to Timothy to encourage him to carry on. Timothy needs this pep talk because the torch is being passed and it’s time for Timothy to use his gift of ministry and persevere so the Church can survive and grow. If you’ve read 2 Timothy before, you probably recall that Paul wrote this letter from his second Roman imprisonment. His jail cell resembled more of a dungeon or a cave in the ground with no windows and a small hole in the ceiling where food was dropped down. It was poorly lit. It was cold and damp. He was chained to the wall and waiting . . . waiting to die. His execution was imminent, and it was in that moment that Paul began to write to his friend, a dear friend who was more like a son. Take some time to read the entirety of this letter and you’ll see that Paul is pouring out his heart; telling Timothy how much he loved him, encouraging him, building him up, and informing him that he is now in charge of the work that they had shared together.
I love how Paul made it clear that he was praying for Timothy; praying day and night. He encourages Timothy to be brave in the face of hardships. Paul is reminding Timothy that he comes from a great family of faith. His mother Eunice and grandmother Lois were great women of faith, and Paul sees that Timothy has followed in their footsteps. It’s time for Timothy to draw on his heritage of faith for strength and guidance in order to carry the torch of ministry that Paul is passing on to him. The gift that God has given Timothy is like a fire. It’s burning inside of him. Wow, what a powerful gift and Paul wants Timothy to develop this gift, not waste it. Paul wants Timothy to intensify the fire within him. Timothy was known for having a spirit of timidity. He was shy and sensitive. It was recorded that he wept when Paul had left him previously. Paul reminds Timothy that God has given him a new spirit. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
The torch is in your hands. What will you do? This powerful pep talk should not only be a reminder, but a motivator for you, for all of us, as we too can fan into flame the gifts that God has given us.