Daily Devotional

-February 28, 2021-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

-The Well Rounded Victorious Life-

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

(2 Timothy 1:7).

People in the world are always striving for balance and a well rounded life. Apart from Christ it is nearly impossible to achieve. Case in point: at the beginning of each year people make so many new year’s resolutions. So many start with great intentions that last perhaps a month or two before petering out. The expression “petering out” is very apropos, it means “ to gradually become smaller, weaker, or less before stopping or ending.”

We as Christians don’t need resolutions we need commitment to Christ and full surrender to Him. He is the One who helps us achieve anything and everything in this world. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Paul wrote in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Paul in writing to his son in the faith, the pastor at Ephesus, instructs him on how to live victoriously in Christ in today’s text. After reminding him of his spiritual heritage passed onto to him from his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois, and of his calling and gifts in 2 Timothy 1:5-6, he shares with him how to live victoriously in Christ. There are four things that make the well rounded victorious Christian life: courage, (lack of fear), power, love, and of a sound mind.

• For God has not given us a spirit of fear – There is no place for fear in our lives. The opposite of fear is courage and faith. Fear is of the devil. The term “fear not,” is found some 365 times in the Scriptures, once for every day of the year. It means that it is very important to be repeated so many times in the Word of God. We as humans are so prone to fear. We fear some many people and things. God never gives us fear, but grows our faith to overcome our fear.

• Of power – God has given us power to be victorious, overcomers through the Holy Spirit. This is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. That is impressive, awesome power to face the devil, temptation, trials, problems, or difficulties. Just as a body builder doesn’t get stronger without training with heavy weights, we don’t get stronger without trials and the Word of God and prayer.

• Of love – As strong as we are, it profits us nothing without love. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:3, “Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” We simply can live successfully and victoriously without it. 1 Corinthians 16:14 says, “Let all that you do be done with love.” In every action, reaction, and interaction, love must prevail.

• Of a sound mind – A sound mind simply means to have the mind of Christ in our thoughts, plans, attitudes, motives, and desires. When Jesus cast out the demons from the demonic, He changed His life completely. The one who was uncontrollable, violent, cutting himself, and living among the tombs was now new creation. Luke 8:35 says, “Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.”

May the Lord help us not to fear but have courage, walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, show His love, and have sound minds. Then we will be victorious and successful in all we do. It worked for Paul, Timothy, and all believers since, and it will work for us too.

Have a blessed and victorious day. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean