Courage That Serves in Love

Timothy's gift was something to cultivate, not merely something to remember receiving. Paul connects his call to rekindle that gift with a refusal to be ruled by fear. The courage described here is not loudness or self-confidence: God's provision joins power with love and disciplined judgment. Its immediate purpose is clear. Timothy must not retreat from testimony about Jesus or distance himself from Paul because imprisonment makes association costly. Paul does not identify the particular gift in this chapter, so we should not pretend to know its precise expression. What he does make plain is that God's gifting calls for active stewardship, and that the indwelling Holy Spirit enables Timothy to guard the message entrusted to him. Believers today can welcome God's gifts while measuring their exercise by this same pattern: faithful witness, loving service, and steady obedience when following Jesus becomes difficult.

Put the Word into practice

Identify one opportunity to speak about Jesus that you have avoided through fear, and prepare a brief, truthful explanation of your faith to share with that person respectfully.

Search the Scripture

How does Paul's connection between Timothy's gift, love, self-control, and costly witness challenge your understanding of spiritual courage?

A prayerful response

Holy Spirit, strengthen me to use what you have entrusted to me. Keep fear from silencing my witness, and keep pride from distorting it. Let your power work through love and self-control as I speak about Jesus. Amen.