June 15

An anecdote is told of the individual who stopped at a diner for breakfast one morning during the bleak days of World War II. When he tasted his coffee, he asked for more sugar. The waitress could not give him more because sugar was one of the commodities that were rationed during the tough days of the war.

She did have a suggestion for him, however. She told him to stir up the sugar he already had. Most people need the same advice. We put sugar into our beverage but don’t stir it. The sweetness achieved isn’t the full effect we could have if we would but stir it. It’s the same way with the spiritual gifts with which we have been entrusted.

Christians want to do God’s work but many of us feel we simply aren’t equipped for service. If only we were more polished speakers, if only we had a more compelling way with kids, if only we were more proficient writers, if only …And it boils down to only one “if only”—the one stated in II Timothy 1:6.

Here it says, “Stir up the gift of God that is in you.” The Lord who knows us is here addressing the excuses we make for avoiding service to the Kingdom of Christ. He shreds our arguments against devoting ourselves to reaching out to others with our faith by telling us we have no argument! We have what we need to serve His Kingdom well.