Today’s passage: 2 Timothy 1:3-7
Helpful thoughts:
- Both Paul and Timothy came from a sort of spiritual heritage. It is a great blessing to know and learn from the faith of those who went before us!
- The gifts that God gives to us are gifts of service.
- They are to be used for the benefit of others.
- They are fanned into flame by their use.
- God dwells in us. He is the victor. As we look at the spiritual battle being waged in the world around us, we are able to:
- Engage without fear.
- Speak and obey the truth with power.
- Love proactively and selflessly.
- Conduct ourselves with self-control.
Questions to consider:
- In what ways can you be fanning into flame the gifts that God gave to you? What has God gifted you to do which blesses and strengthens the church? How are you utilizing that gifting? What fruit have you seen that you can praise the Lord for?
- When other people and our assumption of their views and potential responses causes us to falter or freeze, what do we need to remember to get ourselves back on track? How should the truth of God’s sovereignty and His eternal promises to His people liberate us from the fear of man?
- How does this powerful love under self-control propel us in the task of the Great Commission?