2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. The love of God casts out all other fear! Every affection makes him who cherishes it in some degree braver than he would have been without it. It is not degrading to this subject to remind you of what we see away far down in the scale of living beings. Look at that strange maternal instinct that in the lowest animals out of weakness makes them strong, and causes them to forget all terror of the most terrible at the bidding of the mighty and conquering affection. Look at the same thing on the higher level of our own human life. It is not self-reliance that makes the hero. It is having the heart filled with passionate enthusiasm born of love for some person or for some thing. Love is gentle, but it is omnipotent, victor over all. It is the true hero, and martyr if need be, in the human heart! And when we rise to the highest form of it — namely, the love which is fixed upon God — oh I how that should, and if it be right, will, strengthen and brace, and make every man in whom it dwells frank, fearless, careless of personal consequences. (A. Maclaren, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.WEB: For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. |
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