Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
August 11, 2021
Read 2 Timothy 1:5-10
5 I’m reminded of your authentic faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. I’m sure that this faith is also inside you. 6 Because of this, I’m reminding you to revive God’s gift that is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled. 8 So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about the Lord or of me, his prisoner. Instead, share the suffering for the good news, depending on God’s power. 9 God is the one who saved and called us with a holy calling. This wasn’t based on what we have done, but it was based on his own purpose and grace that he gave us in Christ Jesus before time began. 10 Now his grace is revealed through the appearance of our savior, Christ Jesus. He destroyed death and brought life and immortality into clear focus through the good news.
Good Morning! God’s grace is abundant!
Within the new testament, we read of God’s grace constantly, yet many are still unsure of what this means. God is with us, God is all-powerful, God loves us, God is merciful, and God will care and provide for us. This grace is given to us freely. We can’t earn it or buy it, but we must proclaim Christ as Lord and Savior. In response to this amazing gift, we are called to share the good news with the world.
In verse 7, Timothy reminds us that those with authentic faith allow the Holy Spirit to work within them. The spirit is not timid, but powerful, loving, and self-controlled. As we take steps forward we often face challenges that make us want to stop or take another path. Through the power of the Holy Spirit guiding us from within, we must step out in faith and meet those challenges head-on. I love the words that appear in our liturgy, “and now with the confidence of the children of God . . .”
It is easy to sit and wait for life to come to us, but we are called to step out and gather in all of God’s children. Jesus taught us by example that we must go and share the good news in places that we consider “unclean” as we ate with sinners and walked among the leppers. How we serve our Lord is different for each of us. We must listen to God’s call. God has given each of us different gifts and abilities with which to serve. Regardless of our callings, we can rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us to share the power, love, and mercy of Christ with others.
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. Help us to take those steps of faith. Sometimes we just need a little push to get going. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Share your gifts with those around you.
Don’t be timid when sharing God’s gifts! Pastor Liz
Comments