I was reading 2 Timothy 1 this morning as part of my course work for Cleansing Stream (link below), and I read some verses within that first chapter which took on a whole new meaning to me.Actually as I stopped to think about it, I have spent most of my adult life taking these verses out of it's 'true context'.
2 Timothy 1:6-9
6For 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 a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.
Now it could just be that I am slower than the average bear, but I had TRULY never really thought of it this way before, so humor me if I am lagging behind a little here.
Paul here is exhorting Timothy to use the gifts that he received when Paul layed hands on him. We can receive God's gifts with the laying on of hands, but we learn to utilize them (fan them into flames) only by using them.
However the thing that stood out for me this morning was that Timothy was also exhorted here not to be timid about the use of his gifts, when testifying. Not to be ashamed when testifying about the Lord, because he was not given a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
I have often quote that verse in lots of places in my life when I have been afraid, but not ever really in the use of my gifts or testifying about the Lord.
As I read the commentary in my bible it suggested that Timothy may have had a confidence problem. Timothy was being exhorted by Paul in the use of his gifts because his confidence may be lacking. There have been many times in my Christian life that I have been timid in the use of my gifts, timid in testifying about the Lord just like Timothy! I pray though, that today is a new day and from this moment on I will remember the Rhema word to me this morning.... God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline!
~Hallelujah~
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