Power, Love, and Self-Control

2 Tim. 1:7

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 

Paul longed to see Timothy. He had prayed for Timothy faithfully and had remembered his sincere faith, a faith that had begun with a godly grandmother and mother. What a wonderful home! I imagine Paul was thinking of the great fellowship they would have and the times of intense teaching. Until he could be there with Timothy face to face, he had some instructions for him. First, he wanted him to fan into flame the gift of God that was in him through the laying on of hands. Timothy had great responsibility for a young man. He was chosen and commissioned as a preacher/teacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He needed to do all that he could to foster that gift, to remain faithful in using the gift, and to grow in his gift personally. A preacher/teacher who doesn't grow is not an effective leader. Instead he is an empty shell spouting only words devoid of power. 

Paul was especially concerned because Timothy was young. Being a young man, there were many temptations, temptations which would deter Timothy from his calling. So Paul was pouring his heart and soul into Timothy. He was his son in the faith! Secondly, he wanted him to remember that God had given him a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Living in the reality of this verse would make a person drastically transformed. For Timothy, perhaps he was fearful of coming up against those much older than he was. Perhaps he was unsure how to teach and lead others when he was so young. Perhaps he was concerned he would fall prey to the temptations of young men. But no problem! God had given Timothy, and all of us, a spirit of power, love, and self-control. When I read that verse, I think of the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit who grows within us His fruit, specifically love and self-control. What a great blessing! 

Father,

I confess my lack of love, and self-control. Obviously, I am not living in the power of the Holy Spirit. Help me. Teach me. Grow me. Keep me faithfully fanning into flame the gift of God.

In Jesus name,

Amen