Fanning the Flame of Faith

Where did you find the faith? Where did your faith come from? How are you fanning the flame of the faith that has been entrusted to you?

Our faith in Jesus is a legacy of faith that has been passed down to us through the generations. Because we have been entrusted with this faith, we should be fanning the flame of the fire of this faith and pass the torch of this flame of faith to the next generation.

In his letter of 2 Timothy 1, the Apostle Paul wrote about this truth to his young disciple, and partner in ministry, Timothy, saying, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:5-7, ESV).

Like Timothy, our faith in Jesus was passed down to us through others in our life. We are to boldly and courageously proclaim this faith through the power of God’s Spirit and with great love.

May we fan into flame the legacy of the faith that has been entrusted to us as we cultivate our faith in Jesus and pass the torch of faith to the next generation.

A Collect for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, or the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity (Proper 22): “Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in continual godliness, that through your protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly serve you in good works, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).