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What is in us or in our possession through the Divine benevolence? And what is the call made upon us in Divine providence and by the Divine Spirit, for the exercise of that gift, in order to the enlightenment and salvation of our fellow-men?

I. THE ETHNIC OR RACE GIFT. No people can have enjoyed a larger gift in this regard than our own. "God hath not so dealt with any nation." See how this island-race is spreading over the earth! God has said to this nation, "Stir up the gift which is in thee — in thee by the slow deposit of My providence, by the sewings of centuries — stir up that gilt, and use it for the world's good."

II. THERE IS ALSO THE FAMILY GIFT. All men receive from their ancestors something which goes into and becomes part of themselves, and this something has in it both help and hindrance. But to us, to most of this Christian assembly, the balance is largely on the side of help. It might have failed; for faith is not something mechanical, nor is it essentially and of necessity transmitted with the natural life. It might have failed, but it has not — "And I am persuaded that in thee also." "First in thy grand mother." Young men and maidens are apt to smile at the name of "grandmother." But the Scriptures glorify old age. So do the great poets. Seventy years ago some one lived, and loved, and was wedded, and listened to the music of her children's feet, from whom you have inheritance. Something lived in her which lives in you. "Stir up the gift which is in thee." Let the good thoughts of that far-off time live again. Let the tears then shed be a present tenderness in your breast. Let all the love of the old time have fulfilment and transmission, so that your children and your children's children may arise to call you blessed. In this life you are not atoms, units, severed personalities; but branches, links, conductors; receiving and giving, reaping and sowing, reaching back to the Eden behind you, and forward to the day of God that is coming.

III. THERE IS TO EACH ONE A GIFT FROM GOD DISTINCTLY PERSONAL. There is something given to each, inhering in his own nature alone, not diffused, not shared by others, not flowing through his life from lives behind to lives before — something that begins and ends with himself. It is himself — the inner real self which presides over all outer relations of hereditary and historical kind. Stir up this gift of immortal life that is in thee by the creating Spirit, by the personal inbreathing of God. Be thyself. When a man is born, God gives him power to be something for his fellow-creatures and his God. That something may be like treasure "hid in a field," but never found. We know how certain great men have lived; how they became great by developing the inward energy. How then can a man truly and in the highest sense stir up his personal gift? Attila the Hun, "the scourge of God," had from God the gift which he developed, so that his life became like a stream of scorching fire. Napoleon had all that was masterly in his spirit from the God who made him; but the apostle would not have allowed that he stirred up his gift aright. And now, society is vibrating through and through with the action of various human gifts; statesmen striving against each other, and serving their country in the strife; prolific writers, working up to the full bent of their genius; merchants, making a very science of their commerce, and reaping ample harvest of the same. But beyond the stir and strife lies the question of spiritual motive, aim, tendency. From what fountain springs all this activity? To what goal is it tending?

IV. THE CHRISTIAN GIFT. It is expressed in such a word as this: "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Or this: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." Or this: "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away, and all things are become new." And: "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." Full religious development must take the form of Christian consecration. How much a mad — any one of you young men — might do, would, I believe, be a discovery even to yourself. Now and again God gives us to see this, to see how much one can do, not by great original powers, not by the help of favouring circumstances, but just by consecration, by stirring up the gift — it may be a gift composed of many gifts, a general capacity of service. What in you is its measure? How far will it reach? How long will it last? How much will it achieve? I cannot tell, no more can you, until you try. Timothy the lad in Lystra knows nothing of Timothy the bishop of Ephesus. We all go on to meet, and as we go we make, our future selves.

(A. Raleigh, D. D.)

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KJV: Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

WEB: For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.