14 day plan

God’s ways, our ways

Day 7 of 14

NIV

2 Timothy 1:7

7For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Reflection:

It’s a wonderful thing that as we follow Jesus, he keeps surprising us with new things to learn.

I remember interviewing Marie, when she was 92 years old. She had become a Christian in her twenties after meeting her husband. They attended church throughout their lives, but when Marie turned 70, something very significant happened. Marie was at a Christian conference, and she read from 2 Timothy 1:7. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” At the end of the service, Marie went forward for prayer. She suddenly realised she had spent her entire life being timid in her faith in Jesus, and she didn’t want to be like that anymore. She shared with the conference leader who prayed for her, and it was a powerful experience. Marie had to hang on to the altar rail otherwise she might have fallen over. Twenty years later, it’s still her favourite verse. She told me about being 92, in her retirement home, and the restrictions on her days. But her faith in Jesus was stronger than ever.

May we each continue to ask God to teach us new things and change us, today.

Prayer:

Lord, I thank you that your Spirit is not one of timidity. Please help me to find boldness in your power and love today.

2 Timothy 1:1-18

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

2To Timothy, my dear son:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thanksgiving

3I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel

6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

13What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Examples of Disloyalty and Loyalty

15You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.