God Gave Us…

I have traits that are used for the spreading of the Gospel.

“⁵I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. ⁶For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, ⁷for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” – 2 Timothy 1:5-7 (ESV)

Paul, speaking to Timothy, reminds him of the Christlike character traits that he has been entrusted. Timothy had been raised rightly and only needs to be reminded of those characteristics that were instilled in him from the start.

I to have been entrusted with traits of Christ from those that came before me. And for those I must remember to be grateful. For, whereas here in this world, my mother and grandmother instilled those in me, I have to know where they ultimately came from. Where did they get them, but from those that came before them and from their constant study and trusting of God and His Word. I know what it is and how I should be acting here in this world. I have/had the examples of what right looks like and it is up to me to follow those examples in my walking of this world. Now, I may have been introduced to the traits by those close to me here in this world, but my understanding and reminder of those are from my constant study and trusting of God and His Word.

I have/had examples to follow here in this world, and I have the ultimate example in Christ as to how to use the traits given to me by God. Jesus demonstrated those traits each day in His walk in this world, “power and love and self-control”. He came before me to show me what right looks like and how I am to use the gifts He gave, and for that, I am grateful. It is up to me to continue using the gifts given by God to spread His gospel.

Who was your example of what right looks like? Were they demonstrating the traits of Christ? Were you aware that they instilled those traits in you, and that God gave them to you?