English
2/4/25 Read 2 Timothy 1:3-7 (The heart given by God)
Scripture Summary
2 Timothy 1:3-7 NIV
Thanksgiving
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel
6 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. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Reflection on the Scripture:When blessing others, people often say, "May your wishes come true." On closer examination, this is a risky blessing because the prophet Jeremiah warns, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). Adults, through life’s challenges, learn to exercise self-control, while children, in their immaturity, often lack this discipline, revealing their true nature. The wise counsel from Proverbs states, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23).God, knowing the true state of the human heart, gives His chosen people a new heart (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26). With this transformation, believers become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Paul expressed his heartfelt affection for Timothy with sincerity and a clear conscience, constantly remembering him. Paul recognized that this pure heart and affection came from the Lord Jesus (Philippians 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:1). When others abandoned him, Timothy remained steadfast, partnering with Paul in the gospel ministry, bringing him joy.Paul reassured Timothy that God had also given him a new heart, a gift nurtured since his time in his mother's womb (Psalm 139:13). This heart was cultivated through the faithful upbringing of Timothy’s mother and grandmother, who partnered with God to nurture and protect it. Paul, likewise, partnered with God, urging Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6).What kind of heart is this? It is not a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). Such a heart must be carefully guarded, nourished, and cherished. The Lord Jesus prepared Timothy for the significant responsibilities ahead, knowing he would face battles that could only be won by fully relying on God—much like Joshua's conquest of the Promised Land. The Triune God declared, "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful" (Joshua 1:8).King David understood the secret to standing firm and bearing fruit: "Blessed is the one...whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers" (Psalm 1:2–3).Human forgetfulness is an undeniable reality, making it necessary to meditate on God’s works and Word daily and continually. This spiritual discipline serves as a weapon against all the deceitful lies of the world (Ephesians 6:17; Philippians 4:8; Hebrews 4:12). Only through such vigilance can believers guard the new heart God has given them. Children of God naturally hunger for spiritual nourishment (John 6:63; 1 Peter 2:2; Philippians 1:6; 2:13) to sustain the new heart He has bestowed.Have you received this new heart from God? Why or why not?
Do you nourish and protect this precious heart? How do you do so?
Are you partnering with God to nurture and protect the hearts of fellow believers?
Response through Hymn:
Lord I give you my heart
https://youtu.be/9bQY2komrnA?si=Jx0qOKxWBMzhj-u2
每当我想起祢
我的心哪
Thy Words