Timothy is a third-generation Christian. His mother and grandmother were women of faith. Be grateful for those who went before you. They prayed for you. Your faith is in part due to their desire for you to be saved. Their care to pray for you, to teach you, to be an example for you, were all part of God bringing you to Himself.

Paul is encouraging Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God. It sounds as if Timothy is shrinking back. Paul tells us that the Spirit given us is not a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

In the Spirit we overcome sin, self, and the world, and we love God and others.

If you are feeling a shrinking back, a sliding back, a lack of zeal or growth, it’s time to ask God where sin, self, and the world are taking up the space where His Spirit should be in your life.

Personal revival is always available. Repentance is the fuel of revival. Ask God to show you where you are off in thought, word, or deed. Then confess and repent. Ask His cleansing and His removal of it from your life. He is your savior. Let Him save you!

We’re not ashamed to suffer for the gospel because the God of the universe chose us according to His own purposes to save us for eternity by His abounding grace.

We also know that we can be assured of our faith because God Himself will guard His life in us. Paul tells Timothy to guard that life in Him. How do we guard it? Our only security is in Christ. Give your life into His hands. Ask Him to guard you, to keep you.

While we don’t want to be suspicious of anyone and we must love everyone, we also must always know it is God alone we truly love and serve. People will let us down. People will turn on us. God will always be faithful.

We can love everyone no matter what they’ve done because God loves us no matter what we’ve done.