Fan the Flames
Opening Prayer
Lord, thank You for spiritual fathers and mothers who truly reflect Your heart.
Read 2 Timothy 1:1-7
[1] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, [2] To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. [3] 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. [4] Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. [5] 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. [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 the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Are you fanning the flames of what God has put in you?What a lovely introduction to a letter! Paul writes to Timothy as “my dear son.” The familiarity and love that pour through these opening verses are beautiful to read. Paul shares his longing to see Timothy (4) and celebrates his sincere faith and that of his family (5). Paul rejoices with Timothy over his history yet urges him to go further and deeper with the Lord–to “fan into flame the gift of God” (6).Scholars have questioned what this “gift of God” might be. Could it be the gift of ministry, the gift of evangelism (cf. 2 Tim. 4:5), or even the Holy Spirit himself? We cannot be sure. But Timothy certainly had the Spirit within him as a crucial resource for his gifting (7; cf. 14). Paul reminds Timothy that he has been given a spirit of “power, love and self-discipline” (7). There is no place here for complacency. The Spirit’s function is always to lead us deeper and further in our walk with God.
Apply
Invite the Lord to speak to you about what it means to go deeper in your relationship with him.
Closing prayer
God, You are good and kind and full of tender love and compassion. I want to know You more and more.
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