7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7, New King James Version)
2 Timothy 1:7 seemed to just pop up everywhere yesterday. It was on Twitter, it was on Facebook, it popped up during casual reading.
Think that our Father in Heaven was sending a “text message”.
Timidity is something that I am pretty good at. I excel at. I could probrably get a Ph.d. and the trouble is that is not what He desires for us or wants us to excel at.
From the MHC it was shared:
The Holy Spirit is not the author of a timid or cowardly disposition, or of slavish fears. We are likely to bear afflictions well, when we have strength and power from God to enable us to bear them. As is usual with Paul, when he mentions Christ and his redemption, he enlarges upon them; so full was he of that which is all our salvation, and ought to be all our desire.
The call of the gospel is a holy call, making holy.
Salvation is of free grace. This is said to be given us before the world began, that is, in the purpose of God from all eternity; in Christ Jesus, for all the gifts that come from God to sinful man, come in and through Christ Jesus alone.
And as there is so clear a prospect of eternal happiness by faith in Him, who is the Resurrection and the Life, let us give more diligence in making his salvation sure to our souls. Those who cleave to the gospel, need not be ashamed, the cause will bear them out; but those who oppose it, shall be ashamed.
As I read this, it led to fruitful thought,”What if someone had been afraid to pray for or about me to come to know Christ?”
What if someone had been afraid to publish the bible or about Christ or share their faith, even if not directly but indirectly to me or anyone.
Shuddering at the thought, but to know Christ is to know strength and boldness and the truth is, that although, we ourselves do not save people, that is our Father in Heaven’s job, it IS our job to share His word with others through our words, our actions and our lives and hiding it bears no fruit for anyone.
A farmer does not grow his crops by hiding them under a tent, otherwise how else can they get the needed sun to help them grow; In the cover of darkness, they will perish and even the farmer, himself, will perish, from lack of profit and food.
Same goes with our maturity and growth and for hope that others will come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
This is not something that is to be hoarded and selectively given out. This is not something where we selectively decide who we will love or not love; our Father in Heaven does not selectively do that so who are we to do so.
Yes, it’s scary and nerve wracking and there is no guarentee of success, but that success is not for us to claim. If we do, it’s no longer about our Heavenly Father, but about us and well….the true and only glory is in Him and through Him, not us or in us.
When we go to Him and give ourselves to Him, we no longer belong or are ourselves, we belong to Him and our lives, words and actions should reflect that.
So as I hide under the blanket at this life changing thought that you, me, all of us was NOT given the spirit of timidity, ask yourself: Do you speak for Him with your life, your words and with your growth? If not…how do you (like I ask myself) throw off the fear of intimidation and being timid and speak for and about Him?
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