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. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:6, 7

What do I hear in these words?  First, the “gift of God” that was in Timothy was not put there by the Apostle Paul, even though Paul was the one who laid hands on Timothy.  It was God’s gift!  Paul was but an intermediary.  God gave the gift, not Paul.

Second, that “gift of God” is now the unshakable foundation of Timothy’s life and ministry.  It was not Paul’s gift to Timothy, but God’s.  It could be that Timothy saw himself in Paul’s shadow because he was certainly much younger, not nearly as strong or as forceful as Paul and could not boast the kind of education or training that Paul had in the best Seminary of the time.  How could Timothy possibly “stand in” for Paul?  Not a chance if it were not for the direct gifting of the Holy Spirit who imparted the “gift of God” into Timothy, so to speak.

As I read these words I see that Timothy was extremely timid, unlike Paul who was, by nature and training, strong and straight-forward, no matter what.  Some people are just timider than others. But that does not mean that those timider by nature cannot stand strong and proclaim the power of the Gospel and demonstrate the love of God.  As Paul wrote, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”  I like it that Paul owes his own power to what he sees Timothy now having – the “gift of God.”  I hear him say, “God gives us power to overcome timidity.”

Who among us does not need this push of the Spirit of God?  May the “gift of God” overwhelm any inhibitions that I have – in order to lift up Jesus here and now!