Daily Bread 2-28-17

2 Timothy 1:3-7

3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith at is in thee, which dwelt first in thy Grandmother Lois, and thy Mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

7 For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

ref. - Ac 16:1 - Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed, but his Father was a Greek:

1 Ti 4:14 - Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of hands of the presbytery.

Ro 8:15 - For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Lk 24:49 - And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with the power from on high.

Paul was giving Timothy the proper push that he needed. Words not only of encouragement but of promise and of power. He was trying to bring out the courageous man that was in Timothy to stand for the Gospel in faith and not to waver. He was reminding him that he was called and he was anointed when he was prayed over by the elders of the Church. God's calling was not a calling of fear to cower under the people and the world, but to stand boldly for the gospel in which he was called to. He was given the mind to understand the word and the will of God that came from God in the Holy Spirit, and he was filled with a love for this gospel and for the people. He was not called to go around and create his own gospel and to lean unto his own understanding, he was called of God with power, and love, and of a sound mind! Today we are reminded that we did not just stumble across this wonderful gospel and that it was not given to us to become part of our lives. We were drawn by God, called to the gospel as it is given us by Jesus Christ, and it is to become all of our lives. Without the full armor we will become afraid as part of us is not protected and surely it will be attacked. When this unprotected part of us is attacked it will cause us to perish if we do not have the proper courage and faith in God. It doesn't matter what our background, what we have done, where we have come from, we are offered the same adoption as anyone else who has been drawn to Christ. That is, if we take it. Look at Timothy, son of a Jewess and a Greek. Not too desirable under the Jewish standards, but precious in God's eyes through the gospel of Christ. So, today we must not take for granted the great opportunity that we have been given through this Spirit of adoption. A Spirit where instead of becoming afraid of what is in front of us, we cry out to God and let him, through Jesus Christ, guide us through and over any obstacle we might face. The best place to become strong in the faith is to be surrounded by it and taught of it in the Church. Jerusalem was where the saints gathered and spoke of and taught the word of God, similar to the Church. when the word of God says that once we have been called to the promise, that we should stay in the Church, until we have been given the powers and strengths, the armor, necessary to go out and not only be consumed ourselves, but to be of help to others to find where they belong and who their true Father is. Not by birth, not by stature, but by the grace of God through adoption!! Many of you have not only been called but chosen as well. Do not fear, but go in faith, knowing that God loves you as his own Son or Daughter and he will carry you through!! As for the rest of you, you have been called as well, it is up to you if you will be chosen. Make your decision to call on Him and be delivered from the fear that has overcome you! In Jesus name, let all things be done decently and in order!! Have a great day!!!