Hans Sangtoki Bible Reading: 2 Tim 1:1-14
“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 God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
After we come to faith, now what? Do we just sit around and wait for heaven? Definitely not because first, you have the wrong concept for heaven, and second, God has called us to a glorious mission here on earth.
Heaven is not just some paradise where we can do whatever we want. Heaven is the place where our hearts desires will be fully fulfilled because we can see and worship God face to face. It is a place where we will be satisfied because our relationship with God is growing infinitely more intimate each moment. John 17:3 says, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
Because of that, ever since we have been born again, we can start living the way we should live and the way we will live in heaven, in a growing relationship to know Christ. We can begin to taste eternal life now as we walk with God each day of our lives in a relationship with Him. Relationships take time and effort. We must prioritise it in our daily lives. We need to set time apart to hear God’s Word and talk to Him in prayer. The more we relate with God, the more we will realise His active presence in every moment of our lives.
Second, God has called us to a glorious calling to serve Him to bring about His kingdom here on earth. Christ left the great commission for His followers. Christ tasked the church with expanding the kingdom of God, in other words, spreading the truth to all mankind so that many may submit to Christ as the Lord and Master of their lives.
It was about this commission that Paul spoke urgently to Timothy. The book of 2nd Timothy was Paul’s letter to his successor in ministry only moments before his execution. Paul’s race was about to end, and so Paul charged Timothy to continue the work of God’s Kingdom.
There are many exhortations which we must humbly learn. One of them is found in v.6. Paul urges Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God”. In other words, Paul is saying, use and develop the gifts God has given you for the work of the ministry.
God has given us special gifts and talents to be used for His work. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” God has prepared us with talents to serve Him in a specific calling in the future.
The question now is, how much do we care to develop and nurture the talents God has given us? Do we know what talents God has given us? Everyone has at least one spiritual gift. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace”. And, these gifts are varied and come in many different forms and shapes.
Have we seriously taken into account our gifts? If God has given us more than one, we must develop and seriously use them for God’s kingdom. It might be challenging, and people will think we are crazy. But God has given us the Holy Spirit who will help us use our talents and gifts for the sake of the gospel and His kingdom. It won’t be easy, but it is God’s calling. Will you join me?
Lord, thank You for Your free saving grace in Jesus. I don’t deserve it. Please help me to live for You in my everyday life. Teach me to develop all my gifts and talents from today so that I may be equipped to serve You in the plans You have for me. Thank You for the opportunity to walk with You and to get to know You along the way. Praise be to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Hans Sangtoki (18) is the coordinator of RE Generation Z. He has a passion for serving his generation and sharing hope in Christ. He also has an interest in classical music and dreams of conducting an orchestra one day.