“Because of this, I’m reminding you to revive God’s gift that is in you through the laying on of my hands.” 2 Timothy 1:6, CEB

Paul's second letter to Timothy opens with a personal encouragement from a mentor to someone he loves like a son. Paul remembers Timothy's tears when they parted, his sincere faith, and the influence of his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois. He remembers the gift God has placed within Timothy, and he urges him to put that gift to work. “Because of this, I’m reminding you to revive God’s gift that is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6, CEB).

There is something important in the way Paul frames this encouragement. He doesn't tell Timothy to discover a new calling or somehow become someone he's not. He reminds him of what God has already done. God has given Timothy a gift. Timothy's responsibility is to nurture it and use it faithfully.

We don't know exactly what Timothy was struggling with when Paul wrote these words. Perhaps the responsibilities of ministry had become overwhelming. Perhaps opposition had made him hesitant. Perhaps watching his mentor suffer for the gospel had caused him to wonder what his own future might hold.

Whatever the circumstances, Paul's encouragement comes with a reminder of the Spirit who empowers Timothy's calling. “God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled” (2 Timothy 1:7, CEB).

Notice that Paul doesn't separate these qualities. Power without love can become controlling and destructive. Love without the courage to act can leave us unwilling to confront what needs to change. And without self-control, even our best intentions can become misguided. The Holy Spirit forms all three within us, shaping how we exercise the gifts God has entrusted to us.

But Paul's encouragement doesn't end with Timothy's personal calling. It leads directly into the heart of the gospel.

Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of Jesus or of Paul's imprisonment. Following Christ has brought Paul into conflict with the authorities, and his imprisonment carries both suffering and public disgrace. Association with Paul could come at a cost. Yet Paul isn't ashamed. He knows that the gospel he proclaims is grounded in something far greater than the approval of those who hold earthly power.

God “saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace” (2 Timothy 1:9, CEB). There's an important order here, one that speaks directly to our understanding of holiness. God's grace comes first.

Before Timothy could preach a sermon, lead a congregation, or accomplish anything in ministry, God was already at work. His calling wasn't a reward for exceptional ability or impressive accomplishments. It was an expression of God's grace. That grace doesn't leave us where it finds us. It calls us into a holy life, empowered by the Spirit and shaped by the example of Jesus Christ.

We aren't called to earn God's favor through faithful service. We're invited to respond to the grace that has already reached us, allowing the Spirit to shape our lives and put our gifts to work for the sake of others.

Paul grounds that confidence in Jesus, who has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality into the light through the gospel. The promise of resurrection changes what faithfulness means. Even imprisonment, suffering, and death cannot undo what God has accomplished in Christ. That's why Paul can write, “I know the one in whom I’ve placed my trust” (2 Timothy 1:12, CEB). His confidence isn't in his circumstances, his reputation, or even his own ability to persevere. His confidence rests in the faithfulness of God.

And then, near the end of the chapter, Paul gives Timothy a living example of what this kind of faithfulness looks like. While others have turned away from Paul, Onesiphorus has stood by him. He wasn't ashamed of Paul's chains. In fact, he went looking for Paul in Rome until he found him, and he repeatedly refreshed him.

Onesiphorus didn't simply agree with Paul's message. He demonstrated the power, love, and courage of the gospel through his actions. His faithfulness reminds us that the gifts of the Spirit aren't always expressed through preaching, teaching, or visible leadership. Sometimes they're expressed through the quiet determination to stand beside someone when others have walked away.

As we reach Day 300 of our New Testament reading plan, there's something fitting about Paul's encouragement. We've spent these ten months reading about the life and ministry of Jesus, the birth and growth of the Church, and the challenges faced by those who carried the gospel into the world. Again and again, we've encountered ordinary people called into extraordinary faithfulness through the grace of God. Now Paul's words turn our attention toward the gifts God has entrusted to us.

Maybe there was a time when your sense of calling seemed clearer, when your willingness to serve came more naturally, or when your confidence in God's leading felt stronger. Life has a way of wearing us down, and even sincere faith can become hesitant. Paul's encouragement isn't to manufacture enthusiasm or pretend those struggles don't exist. It's to remember what God has already begun.

The Spirit who called and equipped Timothy is still at work in the Church today. The grace that brought us to Christ continues to form us in holiness and prepare us for faithful service. So let's not allow fear, weariness, or the opinions of others to determine how we respond to God's calling.

Rekindle the gift. Trust the One who gave it. And put it to work in love.

Spend a few minutes today reflecting on a gift, calling, or opportunity to serve that God has placed in your life. If you've allowed it to grow quiet, identify one specific way you can begin using it again today. Pray for the Spirit's power, love, and self-control as you take that step.