For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Tim. 1:7)
Expanded Passage: 2 Timothy 1:6-7
A Christian college student was excited about his summer job. He had signed on to work with a logging crew hundreds of miles away from home, and he told his friends in the church’s youth group that it was going to be a real adventure. At the same time, he asked them to pray for him throughout the summer. Loggers had a rough reputation, and he might be the only believer on the crew. When he returned ten weeks later, he was all smiles. “It was great!” he said. “No one ever found out that I was a Christian!”
Timothy certainly wasn’t that timid. He was a faithful man of God, a gifted minister of the gospel, and a valuable colleague of the apostle Paul. On the other hand, he was young, and Paul felt the need to encourage his protégé to lead with holy boldness. After all, God had provided a spirit of power, and not just for Timothy alone. Paul says that gift is for all of us. There’s a sermon in the pronoun—us!
When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the church at Pentecost, the once-fearful disciples became spiritually powerful witnesses before friends and enemies alike. Why fear an earthly king when you represent the King of kings?
Hear the words so many heard in biblical days: Fear not!
Bob Black is a third-generation Wesleyan minister and professor emeritus of religion at Southern Wesleyan University (SC).
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
