There’s only one way to go, once it germinates, Life cannot but grow. It’s been said that things stagnate or blossom -- atrophy or hypertrophy; they can’t remain static. This is the idea that Paul the Apostle hits on when writing to his protégé Timothy. Timid Timothy was running short on courage and willpower when sent ahead of Paul to the European churches of the First Century.
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This is what Paul wrote Timothy:
This is what Paul wrote Timothy:
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I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity (cowardice), but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline (bold and loving and sensible).
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity (cowardice), but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline (bold and loving and sensible).
-2 Timothy 1:5-7. (Mainly NRSV)
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And what does this say to us?
And what does this say to us?
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God gives us the spirit of power and love and a sound mind. The Greek for the word “sound mind” (sophronismos) is interesting in that it means a steadfast, self-disciplined, and single-minded (not a duplicitous mind).
God gives us the spirit of power and love and a sound mind. The Greek for the word “sound mind” (sophronismos) is interesting in that it means a steadfast, self-disciplined, and single-minded (not a duplicitous mind).
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When we’re indecisive and lacking in courage, this spirit is not from God, it’s from our own resources within i.e. without God; these inner resources are clearly not helpful enough in problem-solving. And not only does cowardice and timidity prevent us from achieving, they also prolong misery, loneliness, a sense of desolation, and sorrow.
When we’re indecisive and lacking in courage, this spirit is not from God, it’s from our own resources within i.e. without God; these inner resources are clearly not helpful enough in problem-solving. And not only does cowardice and timidity prevent us from achieving, they also prolong misery, loneliness, a sense of desolation, and sorrow.
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I believe these words were written to encourage Timothy, and indeed ourselves, as we walk through our days of living on the earth. One day it won’t be so -- our days will be at an end, and it will be for succeeding generations to draw from this truth. We have power. We have love. We have the ability to be self-disciplined. And it’s in the perfectness of the Spirit that we have these things. This is all conditional only on our accepting God.
I believe these words were written to encourage Timothy, and indeed ourselves, as we walk through our days of living on the earth. One day it won’t be so -- our days will be at an end, and it will be for succeeding generations to draw from this truth. We have power. We have love. We have the ability to be self-disciplined. And it’s in the perfectness of the Spirit that we have these things. This is all conditional only on our accepting God.
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With this simple knowledge of God’s presence we should go out every day with a simple, unalterable courage to face and seize the day (Carpe Diem) with God. Let us ‘fan into flame’ this gift of power that God gives us. Hallelujah!
With this simple knowledge of God’s presence we should go out every day with a simple, unalterable courage to face and seize the day (Carpe Diem) with God. Let us ‘fan into flame’ this gift of power that God gives us. Hallelujah!
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Copyright © 2008, Steven John Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Copyright © 2008, Steven John Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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