Light it Up!

Submitted by Lara Cook
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands…  2 Timothy 1:6

We all have different strengths.  Some of these strengths are better defined as “gifts”. God has equipped His children with gifts that we should use for His glory.  In the scripture above, Paul is writing his second letter to Timothy from prison.  He encourages Timothy and then reminds him tofan into flame the gift of God– or get excited!  Get moving!  He was telling Timothy to develop his God-given talents and use them.  

It is easy to become bored or apathetic with our gifts.  Sometimes it can feel like we are stagnating because we are not sure exactly how to use the gifts we have, so we don’t do anything.  Nothing makes Satan happier than for Christians, with flaming gifts from above, to feel inadequate and sit paralyzed in the “I have nothing to offer”zone.  The bible says the enemy has flaming arrows that he fires strategically and continuously at us.  Well, we have flaming arrows to be fired out in Jesus name!  

How can we fan into flame the gift of God in us? Most of the time our gifts are aligned with our passions.  If you don’t know your gifts, think about what you are passionate about.  How can God use you in this capacity?  If you know your gift but feel stuck, strike a match and ignite the gift you have.  Pray, learn, find a mentor, volunteer, set it on fire in any way you can! Ask God to show you ways to use your gift and look for opportunities to learn and grow.  

We have a responsibility to share Christ and the gift of His salvation with the world.  We have the power to do so from God, and we also have gifts that help us share Him with the world.  We have everything we need, we just have to keep the flame burning.  It is easy to let the world put out our flames.  That is exactly why Paul is encouraging Timothy to fan the flame so it doesn’t go out.  Diligently feed it with Bible study, prayer, fellowship, worship and knowledge.  What can you do today to fan into flames the gift of God in you?  

Scripture to Claim:

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4