The winter season has been exceptionally cold here on the Highveld, where I live. When the temperature dropped to a single digit during the early evening, it felt good to be sitting at home cosily, with a mug of hot soup and a thick jersey. With such biting temperatures, I felt like never going outside again.

 

The spiritual home we have been reflecting on over the past few days can also become so comfortable that we hesitate to venture into the “cold” world outside of our own congregation, circle of friends, family or cultural group. In a sense, we may become afraid to expose ourselves to “strangers”.

 

Despite the cold winter, I realised that we will stagnate if we do not venture outside. We cannot confine ourselves to our cosy, warm homes. We need to maintain contact with people outside of our circle.

 

Timothy also became afraid. He likely faced significant opposition from a group of Jewish people in the congregation, which made his situation very difficult. Paul used a strong word when he wrote to Timothy: “For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid.” This word can also be translated as “afraid”. Paul continues, saying that the Spirit we have received fills us with power. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength to navigate a challenging, cold world, where we may face opposition, yet we are called to share the message of Jesus Christ. The Greek word for power that Paul used is the root of our words “dynamic” and “dynamite”.

 

Instead of being afraid of what people might think or say when we openly confess our faith in Jesus, we should use the dynamite of the Holy Spirit to bring change to our world.