Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you. (2 Tim. 1:6)
Two men were discussing their church. One of them said, “Which do you think is a bigger problem in our church: ignorance or apathy?” The other said, “I don’t know, and I don’t care.”
Instead of either attitude, Paul advised, “Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.”
C. S. Lewis wrote The Screwtape Letters, in which he portrayed a senior demon named Screwtape briefing his nephew, a junior tempter called Wormwood, on the subtleties and techniques of tempting people. He instructed Wormwood that the goal is not wickedness but indifference. Screwtape cautioned his nephew to keep the prospect, the patient, comfortable at all costs. If he became concerned about anything of importance, Wormwood was to encourage him to think about his lunch plans. Above all, he was not to let the person worry.
Then Screwtape gave Wormwood this job description: “I, the devil, will always see to it that there are bad people. Your job, my dear Wormwood, is to provide me with the people who do not care.”
Larry Crabb suggested, “The core problem is not that we are too passionate about bad things, but that we are not passionate enough about good things.”
No wonder Paul wrote, “Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.” Don’t let your heart grow cold. Keep it warm with the fire of God within you.
Examine your heart for signs of coldness and ignite passion for God.
Ron McClung lives in Fishers, Indiana, with his wife Carol. He has written his weekly column, Positive Perspective, for more than thirty years.
© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
