Potential

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
2 Timothy 1 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
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. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:6-7, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
I find this passage warm and encouraging, but with an implied edge. 

Paul reminds Timothy of his upbringing in verse 5, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” Paul met Eunice and her son Timothy on Paul’s second missionary journey through what is now Turkey. The story is told in Acts 16. Then in verse 6, Paul reminds Timothy that he has seen potential and invested in Timothy in verse 6, “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.” But here comes the edge in verses 7 and 8, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.” So much had been poured into Timothy. God had given Timothy loving, nurturing, God believing mother and grandmother and had positioned Timothy to meet Paul. Paul saw Timothy’s potential and had called Timothy and laid hands on Timothy. Now was the time for Timothy to see for himself what God had put in place for him and to not be timid. It was time for Timothy to live out his potential. 

I’m currently reading through Exodus and I love the story of Moses. God invested in the potential Moses throughout his life. Moses was rescued as an infant and rose up through the hierarchy of Egyptian nobility to a high position then through a sequence of events fled from Egypt to the Midian wilderness. Then Moses is called by God to return to Egypt to free the Israelites, but Moses is timid. Exodus 4:10-14 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you.” This is so rich Moses was timid and didn’t believe in himself, or maybe more clearly stated, Moses didn’t believe that God could work through him and unleash the potential God had created. 

As read 2 Timothy 1 and prepared for this devotional I was reminded of the 2011 film, “The Help.” I see similarities between verses 6-7 and the wonderful scene when Aibileen, an African American maid working in white household and living through all sorts of discrimination during the early 1960’s segregation, reaches out in love to Mae Mobley, a white toddler in her care. Here in the scene I’ve attached Aibileen is investing in the potential of Mae Mobley with encouragement and love. She is speaking into Mae Mobley who she is. Mae Mobley is forming as person. Although not stated or shown in the movie, I believe Skeeter, the main charter, was also formed like Mae Mobley by her maid now missing, Constantine. It is Skeeter’s love for Constantine that causes her to question and eventually push against the social norms of discrimination that were common and comfortable for whites during the 1960’s. I believe that Aibileen’s love for Mae Mobley is a flash back to what Constantine was for Skeeter.  





My grandfather and grandmother lived in Nebraska and were missionaries to the Sioux Indians. They helped run a church on the Wounded Knee reservation in South Dakota and often led worship. I grew up in Atlanta Georgia so they didn’t spend much time with my sister and me. But when they were with us, they poured into us who God was. I remember once being up in Nebraska and my grandfather deciding to take me out to shoot his gun, a 22. I was probably 10 years old. It seemed to take forever for him to find the bullets, then find the gun, then find his hat, then walk to the field, then find just the right board… Finally after instruction about how to hold the gun and point the gun and pull the trigger, I shot a hole in the board. We then turned and went back to the house. That was it? My grandfather was Danish immigrant and his English was ok, but forced. During the walk back he asked me “What will you do for the Lord?” I remember, as a kid, thinking what an odd question, but sure enough I remember that question. He was speaking into me what he saw in me, my potential. 

So, the Spirit of God speaks into us… “You is kind, you is smart, you is important…” and the question is “What will you do for the Lord?” 


PRAYER:
God, You have nurtured our potential through the people, experiences, and events of our lives. Help us to see, understand, and grasp the power, love, and self-disciple You intend for us. We are Yours. Show us how You need us to act through and with You to bring the world to You. 

 

 

WHO AM I? (A.K.A. ANECDOTAL STORY)

I am David Norris. Are you sick of hearing stories from me about Nebraska or the trip to Israel? Bummer. Apparently, it’s all I got left, so here’s another one. When Moses was called by God, he was living with the Midianites in the wilderness. While in Israel we visited Timna Park, which is in the wilderness once occupied by the Midianites. This is believed to be the geographic area where Moses had his burning bush experience. Ron, our guide, explained to us that the Midianites were the best shepherds because they could find food and water for their herds in this wilderness. He went on to say why else would God have sent Moses, an aristocratic Egyptian, to Midian. God needed Moses to learn from the best shepherds so that he could lead the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness to the promise land.