I have been spending time, in preparation for a retreat I am leading this weekend, studying 2 Timothy chapter 1. In this final charge to Timothy, Paul, who is in prison in Rome, works hard to encourage Timothy down the right path as a pastor and leader.
The image that sticks with me today is from 2 Timothy 1:6 where Paul writes, “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of hands.” The charisma or gift of God Paul refers to here is rooted in grace. Paul may be referring to a special annointing of God that Timothy received at ordination, but the image of fanning the flames of God’s grace in our lives is a beautiful one. Is there anything men love more the playing with fire? It starts at such a young age, this passion for burning things. Tending a fire is beautiful and requires attention and understanding. Fires need to be fed to keep burning. They need to be shaped to provide enough oxygen. After they have burned for a while they simply need to be stirred around to allow new places to burn and more oxygen into hidden crevices.
As we think about the flames of God’s grace and our faith, this metaphor from Paul is very helpful. Too many, as in many of Jesus’ parables, seem to catch a spark from God, but we allow it to go out so quickly. There is no maintenance, no feeding, no effort to keep it going. Sometimes this happens with those who spark the quickest, they burn out the quickest as well and lose the flame.
In our lives we need to keep flanning the flames. We need to make sure our spiritual fire is a long burning one with deep, dark coals that are smoldering and long lasting. We need to throw some fresh wood on there regularly, and sometimes we just need to shake it around to reignite it.
How do you fan the flames of your faith? What reignites you? How do you keep feeding the fire of your faith?
October 1, 2008 at 7:27 pm
The flame remains ablaze through prayer and worship. God ignites us through the Holy Spirit. Remaining in God’s presence is necessary. We are told to ask, to seek and to knock.
This fire is simply a gift. The only appropriate response is to offer praise and thanks to the God who gives.