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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. (2 Timothy 1:1-14)
The first thing I do in the mornings is to wake up my computer. Yes, computers sleep; whether they dream or not, I know not. But once it is up I go straight to the Upper Room devotional page. The cover picture always intrigues me and I used to click asking the question, where is God in this picture? If Jesus was on the cover, duh, I would click on Him. Then this month's cover of Ruth and Noami hugging with the other sister-in-law, Orpah, walking off. Woah, thought I, were is God in this picture? Duh, God is everywhere I answered myself. I can click anywhere on that box and know that God is there. This passage reaffirms that for us; God is at work in us and because of that, we should be at work for God. What slows us down a lot of the time is that nagging question of fear that tempts us to say this is a job for a better or bigger Christian. No it's not; we are the better or bigger Christian, whom God has blessed with "a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind." Fear is the easier road to take; "We can't and won't meet our church's budget;" "we can't welcome people that are different from us, they'll mess up our property;" or, "We can't lend our worship or kitchen spaces to outsiders because they might steal everything we have!" Are those statements the ones God would make for us? No, those are ignorant statements made by a spirit of fear. God's spirit of power and love would speak boldly about loving and serving one another.
Friend, claim the spirit of God's power and love and sound mind for yourself. It is what will bless you and sustain you and make the work ever before us a thrilling challenge of victory and success.
PRAYER: Loving God, forgive me and those around me who are motivated only by fear. We are called to be followers and doers of what God has empowered us to do; so pour out Your spirit of power and love and a sound mind to me and those who pray with me; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
