Today you should read: 2 Timothy 1:1-6
Today we begin in 2 Timothy, Paul’s final book. This is Paul’s last shot to instruct his protégé and he starts by telling him three things:
1. He encourages him with thankful prayers to God.
He tells Timothy how thankful he is for him and his “genuine faith” (Paul loves Timothy like a son and he knows he is about to leave this world). Encouragement is so important to those we invest in. Sometimes those we disciple or mentor need us to give them a push, or even a good kick, but don’t underestimate the power of encouragement to those who we hold influence over.
2. He mentions the lineage of his faith.
Paul brings up a brief synopsis of how Timothy came to faith. Now, we know that faith is a personal, individual thing that is not inherited or done as a family. However, there is something very special and strong when faith is “passed” on from one generation of a family to the next. When a mother can lead her daughter to Jesus and then the daughter does the same for her child it creates a very strong heritage. This is a great challenge and encouragement for all parents. As a new dad, and basically a first generation Christian, I desperately long to see this kind of legacy start with me and go to my daughter and then hopefully on down to her children. What a wonderful goal for us as parents to shoot for.
3. Encouragement to practice and sharpen spiritual gifts
Paul then encourages Timothy that, for those reasons, he should work to strengthen his spiritual gifts. This is a great encouragement for us as well. Many times we think because we are gifted in a particular area that we don’t need to work on it or give it much thought. I took a spiritual gifts test many years ago and it revealed to me that I was strong in area of mercy and giving. I thought that meant these things were natural for me and that I didn’t need to work on them. That is totally wrong. These things do come EASIER for me but they are still not natural. If I don’t work on them then I can quickly find myself being selfish, stingy, and short with people. The same is true for everyone. So make sure you work on and practice your spiritual gifts. Read up on them, study them in Scripture, and find ways to use them. Any tool that sits around long enough without being used and cared for will eventually rust and become useless. Don’t let that happen to you.
Posted by:Robbie Byrd
JumpstartCPC.com 
Wow! A double shot of Byrd right before Thanksgiving! (Commentaries on both Nov. 26th & 27)
Love ya Robbie Byrd! Happy Thanksgiving to my wonderful CPC Family!
Good word about spiritual gifts Robbie! Too often i spend time worrying about the things that I am not good at, rather than nurturing and practicing my spiritual gifts.
Great words and great picture Steve!