“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” - 2 Timothy 1:7

As we continue to look at 2 Timothy 1:7, we now know that it is not God who has given us a spirit of fear. Instead, He gives us a spirit of POWER, LOVE, and SELF-DISCIPLINE. Yesterday, we looked at the spirit of power that we can claim as His children.

Today, we look at another gift He has blessed us with: a spirit of LOVE. God did not design you to be mean. He did not create you to be disrespectful, harsh, sarcastic, or disingenuous. Anytime someone is treating you in one of these ways, more often than not, something is going on in their own life that has made them unhappy. And as a result, they take it out on the people around them.

These are not traits God has given us. Instead, He has given us a spirit of love. God wants us to love those around us. He wants us to love our family, our friends, and even our enemies! “Our enemies? Pastor, how can I love someone who is mean to me or dislikes me?”

As believers, we are called to be different. Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Did you catch that? He said don’t copy the behaviors of this world. Does this world not love their family and friends and hate their enemies? To do this is to be like everyone else! Anyone can love those who love them and hate those who hate them! But God has called us to be different.

As a Christ follower, God has not only called you, but He has equipped you with a spirit of LOVE. And He wants you to express that love to everyone you come in contact with! When you show love, you show Jesus to the world. And nothing makes God happier than when your actions point to Him!