Living in the Spirit

September 30, 2022

Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-14

I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. –2 Timothy 1:3-7

There is a lot between the lines of this scripture because it is a letter to a friend who can fill in the blanks. Why would someone think the author might not have a clear conscience, why was Timothy crying? Were those tears of joy or pain or being overwhelmed Timoty shed? What was the connection between Timothy’s family and his need to rekindle the gift of God he had received? While we will never know the answers to these questions, they illustrate well the importance of sharing in community with others who are striving to build the beloved community. No matter what the details of the correspondents’ lives are, the advice closing out this scripture is good for all of us. God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

I am a coward about some things but hopefully not the things that matter. My greatest fear is through my advocacy work, I might make things worse. Therein lies the need to recognize that we are graced by a spirit of power and of love with whom we need to maintain open communication, and that requires self-discipline.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the grace of your love that fills the gaps in our ability to serve you as you completely. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.