Verse of the Day 8/8

2 Timothy 1:6-7  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. (NIV)

I have always enjoyed fires in the fireplace or in "the pit" in our backyard in Huntley.  One of my favorite things to do was after the flames had gone out, to go back and arrange the embers and blow on the coals.  You would see them glow brighter and poof, the flame would return.

 

I ended yesterdays devotional with the thought from  Galatians 5 "faith working through love".  This "fanning into flame" in our spiritual life is illustrated in today's verses.

 

Bible commentator Dick France writes, "the combination of power, love, and self discipline (v.7) provides a potent recipe for Christian leadership.  Power alone could be too hard, love alone could be too soft, and self discipline alone too self centered.  But when the three come together in one person, there  is a leader whom others will be glad to follow, and it is such a leader that the troubled church in Ephasus needs.  Timothy has been given that gift and must not let it die down, but rather fan it into flame."

 

We may go through times in our life when our spiritual flame may seem to have gone out.  It may be rekindled and in the process may lead to a rekindling in others.  Do you, does your church need this?

 

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com

2 Timothy 1:5-7Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁵ I am calling up memories of your sincere and unqualified faith (the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), [a faith] that first lived permanently in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am [fully] persuaded, [dwells] in you also.

⁶ That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].

⁷ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.