Fanning The Flame
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’s specific instruction to young Timothy was to fan into flame the gift of God. Importantly, Paul specified fanning God’s gifts. It is important we not attempt to fan into flame those parts of our lives that are not from and of God.
I mentioned in the previous thought that I am not a gifted musician. I was the last of three sons and my mother desperately wanted one musician. The older brothers were not musically inclined and my mother poured all her effort into helping me be the musician of my generation. But all the piano lessons in the world could not make up for a lack of a musical gift.
My older brothers were gifted athletes. Both played college football. And I aspired to be an athlete as well. My oldest brother was a solid football player. He was big, but just a touch slow for major college ball. My middle brother was fast, but was just too small to make it to major college football. As I came along, the coaches were hoping I would be the perfect combination of my brother’s gifts. Unfortunately, about the ninth grade we all discovered God had combined their assets into one package; I was small and slow – a deadly combination on the football field.
Was I disappointed that I would not be a gifted football player? Of course I was. But, thankfully, a good coach helped me not to fan a flame that was not a God given gift. He saw other gifts in me and suggested I not pursue football in high school, but participate by being the team trainer. He provided me the opportunity to receive instruction in caring for athletic injuries and encouraged me in this work. Rather than fanning a flame that was not a gift from God, he helped me discover God’s gift to me and fan that flame. That flame eventually became a large fire of passion for medicine that I came to understand as God’s calling for career in my life.
God has gifted you in some special way. I encourage you to discover God’s gifts to you and to fan those flames.
Lord, help me concentrate on fanning only the flames in my life that are gifts from you.
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.
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