God's Gift

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God for the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dear child: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day. I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, as I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you.

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God. (2 Timothy 1:1-8)

Today’s reading challenges us.  Do we worship God with a clear conscience?  Do we pray night and day?  Most of us look away with guilt because we don’t do either well. 

Do we appreciate the gift of God and stir it into flame?  Does the way we live our lives give off bright light from fire that is supposed to burn in our hearts?  Or, are we cowards afraid to testify to the Lord meaning we fail to live by and proclaim Jesus’ teachings such as how we must treat our neighbors with respect and honesty. 

The power of love and self-control should overwhelm us.  That can be hard to achieve so let’s take heart from Timothy – and Lois and mother Eunice, whoever they were – meaning  we are bolstered by the words of the Gospel and receive needed strength that comes from God.

Deacon David Pierce