Friday, December 6, 2013
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV).
We have often heard the expression “timid Timothy,” but have you ever wondered why he was timid?
None of us are exempt from troubles—even the Lord Jesus Christ experienced them! Difficulties in life exist because of the curse of sin (Romans 8:18-23), bad choices that we and others make (Galatians 6:7,8), and persecution for choosing to live godly in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:12). While suffering will not be abolished until our death (or the rapture), we need not lapse into the mentality of hopelessness (today’s Scripture indicates Timothy did). God has the answer, the key, to handling those awful circumstances.
In the verse previous to today’s Scripture, Paul reminded young Timothy about how he had ordained him in the ministry. Timothy received a very important ministry, but Satan was using Timothy’s difficult circumstances to discourage him, to distract him from that ministry from God. Beloved, Satan still attempts to do this with us, so it is imperative we understand and apply today’s Scripture by faith!
Thankfully, in today’s Scripture, God the Holy Spirit informed us how our adversary the devil operates, but let us look at a companion passage for additional insight. Before He wrote today’s Scripture, He had penned through Paul many years earlier: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; ) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Scripture warns about Satan “corrupting our minds” (2 Corinthians 11:3).
Satan attacks the Christian’s mind using bad information—false doctrine, religious tradition, philosophy, et cetera (Ephesians 4:14; Colossians 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:14-18). Hence, today’s Scripture speaks of the “spirit,” or mind, of the Christian. Let us discuss the mentality God has given us in Jesus Christ….
333 Words of Grace 