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. 2 Timothy 1:6
In the early morning light and cool damp fog of the campground it is always a delight to find an ember that is sufficient to begin a blazing fire. Finding a smoldering ember requires a deliberate process of uncovering the ember from the ash of spent fuel, blowing steadily to make the ember hot, and adding some dry kindling to serve as fuel for the next fire. I can think of no camping morning when I forgot to start a fire. Everything in me cried out for the warmth and refreshment of breakfast around the fire. (Yes I know, I could have used matches, but I always get more satisfaction in finding a burning coal to start the morning off with.)
Ministry will burn a person out if they fail to serve from the God-given strengths He entrusts to a person. Paul had entrusted Timothy with an assignment that required him to be engaged in the lives of people and the church in Ephesus. No doubt Timothy could have been drawn into controversies and all kinds of activities that would not have required hard work and diligent dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Paul reminds Timothy of a personal moment when God confirmed His call for him. It’s not just Paul’s hands on Timothy. It is God’s hand on Timothy. It is God’s gift that is in Him. This gift is an ember—it is God’s provision for the ministry assignment necessary for the building up of the church and the transformation of lives.
Each follower of Jesus Christ in the Body of Christ has a grace-gift of God that requires attention. Whether we discover this strength through volunteering, through observation by others in community, or by a strong sense of God’s call on our lives, the strength does not work by itself. God has designed this life so that willful cooperation and dependence upon the Holy Spirit is required to develop “the gift.” Paul says “fan it into flame.”
A few suggestions for increasing the intensity of your service and the strength of God’s gift in you:
1. Dedicate yourself to God. Romans 12:1-8. God can do more with a person who is willing to serve and available Him than with a person who is primarily interested in him/herself. You will have to work out this attitude of the heart continually in the secret places of life.
2. Roll up your sleeves and begin to serve. When you see a need move toward it. Over time you will discover what you do with ease and where you begin to observe “only God could have done that” moments.
3. Study. Find all you can in Scripture about your Gift(s) and the people who demonstrated that gift. Identify skills that would make the administration of that gift more effective in your ministry context.
4. Serve with a group of people who are open, honest, bent toward encouragement, and intent on having fun while sharing the way of suffering. Sounds like a contradiction–but I believe it is a necessary approach.
When we make it our habit to live like this–we will be a fire that awakens others to the transforming grace of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
