INADEQUATE AND BLESSED
Opening Prayer
Lord, reveal my gifts to me.
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.
Thanksgiving
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.
Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel
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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Imagine your spiritual life as a flame. How is it burning at present?
Think Further
When marking essays, I always try to give students positive feedback first, encouraging them by pointing out what they have done well before going on to the essay’s shortcomings or issues to be addressed. In the same way, here Paul encourages Timothy by pointing out some of his blessings before urging him to address some of the challenges he faces.
The blessings are linked together by the repeated theme of “remembering” (3–6): Paul remembers Timothy in prayer; he remembers his tears when they last parted, his sincere faith, the faith of his mother and grandmother, and the spiritual gift Timothy had received. What blessings have strengthened you in your Christian life? Who are your spiritual parents? Who prays for you, walks closely with you and recognizes your gifts? Pause to “remember”—and be encouraged.
Timothy also has issues to be addressed. He may feel vulnerable to Jewish suspicion on the grounds of his father being a Gentile, to disrespect within the church because of his youth, or to his tendency to ill-health. In your spiritual life, do you face potential limitations due to your upbringing, genetic inheritance, perceived status, health, or temperament? Paul’s remedy is to “remind” Timothy that he has a God-given gift which he needs to “fan into flame” (6). We are not told the precise nature of this gift, though presumably it is related to Timothy’s ministry, nor does Paul specify how the gift is to be reignited: perhaps through waiting expectantly on the Lord, perhaps by stepping out in faith, trusting that God’s gifting will prove adequate for the task. Finally, along with Timothy, we are reminded that, however inadequate we feel, God’s indwelling Holy Spirit can produce the otherwise unattainable combination of “power, love and self-discipline” (7).
Apply
How can you fan into flame your gifts? In prayer, imagine moving closer to the source of fire.
Closing prayer
Lord, enable me to be used as a laborer in the vineyard according to the set of abilities which You have placed within me.
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