majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him in 2 Timothy 1:7,
"God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of
love and of self-discipline."
Paul writes to his disciple Timothy, encouraging him to "fan into
flame the gift of God" given him when Paul had laid hands on him. As
he encourages Timothy, Paul reminds him that God himself has given us
a spirit, not of timidity, but of power, of love, of self-discipline.
When we become children of God we receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus
himself told his disciples to wait until the empowering Holy Spirit
came on them, Acts 1:8, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This was fulfilled
on that Pentecost and has been with all believers ever since. We
receive a spirit of power when we are born into God's family. Paul
prays for this power for his readers in Ephesians 3:16, "I pray that
out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through
his Spirit in your inner being..."
When the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us we begin to see the
evidence of that presence in our lives by fruit the Spirit produces
within us. In Galatians 5:22-23 we read, "The fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control." Two of these Paul references in 2
Timothy 1:7 - love and self-discipline.
Real, honest-to-goodness, red-blooded believers in Jesus Christ are
not wimps, pansies or milk-toast types. God's children are
strengthened by God, with power, with love and with self-discipline.
Within ourselves we are nothing, but with God we have a power that no
one else can embrace. How wonderful is our God who does these things
within us.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd
love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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