Issue 12 - Day 7

2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 1:7-9
7)  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8)  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9)  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Are you afraid? Do you live in fear? There are a ridiculous number of named fears, from Linonophobia, the fear of string, to the fear of long words, which is Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, and everything in between. I think the biggest fear people have is being seen to be afraid of something, that is Phobophobia. this is not how God intended us to live.

Power, love, and a sound mind. This is how we are intended to live. Some were clearly ashamed to be known as Christians, or to be associated with Paul in jail. We have reason to be proud of Christ. He is our saviour, and the ultimate Lord of all. We may think we came to him because of our needs, but he has his own purposes in saving us. His purpose was simple, as it says in Ephesians 1. His will is that we be brought together to him in Christ to worship him.

Perfect love, it says, casts out fear. That perfect love is found only in Christ. It is his love for us that drives out fear from our lives so we can worship him. Live in his ways, walk in him, and he will give you power, love and a sound mind.