Fan With Power
by Dan Jones, M.D.
II Timothy 1:6-7
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 God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Paul is advising young Timothy to fan into flame God’s gifts to him. In verse 7 he goes on to advise Timothy that to assist in fanning this flame God has provided a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. And God has provided you and me with these same effective tools to use in our lives to fan our flames.
It was important to Paul that Timothy not be shy about developing and using his gifts for God. He noted there was nothing timid about this fanning business. God provided a spirit of power. But as we move forward to fan our flames, it is crucial we seek this power from God and not attempt to fan God’s gifts in our own power.
Health professional students are particularly vulnerable here. Many of us had strong spiritual lives prior to beginning our medical education. But so much of what has supported us spiritually is taken from us during medical school and our years of training. Group worship and Bible study on a regular basis become difficult, not only because of the long hours, but because someone else is setting our schedule. Sunday mornings often find us at the hospital caring for patients rather than in Bible study and worship. Our demanding schedules make it difficult to maintain some of our established friendships including those with our Christian friends.
Even those of us who are in training in a health profession because we are sure it is God’s will for our lives, may find ourselves at times trying to fulfill this plan in our own power and strength and not God’s. This simply doesn’t work. During my years of training I found myself there over and over again. My love for God never wavered. But there were times I did not make time for Him – the time I needed to get my power from Him
Lord, as I move forward to fan the flames of your gifts to me, remind me to do this in your power and not my own.
Dan Jones, M.D., MACP, FAHA, a board-certified Internist, a former medical missionary to Korea, professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Chancellor of the University of Mississippi until 2015. Dr. Dan Jones is a member of CMDA.
Dr. Jones welcomes any comments or questions about what he has written and can be reached at - djones@umc.edu
Rounds with the Master, Spiritual Pearls from the Great Physician Devotionals are released every Monday and Thursday.
Photo by Murat Onder on Unsplash
