«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» (2 Timothy 1:6, 7).
“I REMIND YOU TO STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD WHICH IS IN YOU,» the apostle Paul tells Timothy in today’s verses. What was the elderly apostle trying to tell his spiritual son? It might be useful to read those same words in the New Life Version. It says, «I ask you to keep using the gift God gave you.»
We can better understand Paul’s advice to Timothy when we look at the Greek term, the apostle uses to express the idea of «stirring up.» It is anazopureo («to stir up», «to relight a flame», «to rekindle»), that is why it is metaphorically used to show that «God’s gift is like a fire that may be extinguished if one is negligent.»‘ In other words, in order to fulfill his ministry, Timothy did not need God to give him new abilities; instead, he needed to use what he had already received.
Do you remember the fires we used to light at youth camps or nature walks? It worked the same way. If we only settled for lighting the wood, after a while the fire burned out. In order for it to stay alive, we had to continually «stir it up,» by adding more wood, spraying it with alcohol or gasoline, fanning the flames while they burned, etc. In much the same way, we should «stir up» the gifts God has given us. And what better way to stir them than by using them to serve God and others?
Like Timothy, God has given us work to do, but in order to accomplish it, we should not expect to be granted gifts we do not already have. No. Instead, let us use the gifts we have already been given! The wonderful thing about all this is that, while we use what we have, the flame of the fire will be «stirred up,» and we will also be in a position to receive even more.
«The Lord desires us to use every gift we have; and if we do this, we shall have greater gifts to use. He does not supernaturally endow us with the qualifications we lack; but while we use that which we have, He will work with us to increase and strengthen every faculty.»—Christ’s Object Lessons, ch. 25, p. 353.
Have you already discovered what «special ability» God has given you? How are you using it? Today is a good day to glorify the giver of «Every good gift and every perfect gift» (James 1:17).
Dear heavenly Father, today I want to be an instrument of Your amazing grace.
Therefore I do not ask that You grant me new abilities, but that you give me the courage to use the ones I already have.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate
