PODCAST
Ground in the Life of the Spirit
May 20th, 2023
2 Timothy 1:6-14
The work of the Spirit of God in our lives is truly remarkable and transformational. In his letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul reminds young Timothy just what this work of the Spirit provides. Yet the notions of “power,” “love,” and “self-discipline” must be considered carefully, through the lens of God.
New Testament theologian N.T. Wright notes that “power divorced from love quickly becomes destructive.” And “love without power can degenerate into wishy-washy sentimentality.”* We can take confidence in knowing that the power, love, and self-discipline that come from God are good, righteous, and true. Power and love apart from God are less than perfect, often marked by a lack of self-discipline, and can even easily become misguided and even harmful.
As we ground ourselves in the disciplines Jesus taught us, we can be confident that the Spirit of God will fill us and use our lives for God’s glory. Our assurance comes in knowing the Spirit will give us all we need for all that is required of us.
*N.T. Wright. Paul for everyone: The pastoral letters, 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. Nicholas Thomas Wright. London: 2004.
Author: Edie MacPherson
