II Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (NASB). This scripture names three qualities we are given by The Spirit of God. I am not saying we can, but If we could choose one of them we desire most, which would it be? What If God were choosing the one He most wants for us, which would it be? Love? Power? Discipline?

It may sound like I am trying to determine which of the three qualities is most important. What I mean to imply is that we tend to value power and love and relegate discipline to some lesser value. We may readily see the spirit of power and love as important to our struggle against the spirit of timidity. The spirit of discipline, I contend, is equally important.

The New International Version (NIV) and New Living Translation (NLT), name the third quality “self-discipline. The New Century Version (NCV) and Contemporary English Version (CEV) translate the word “self-control.” The New American Standard Bible (NASB) has simply the word “discipline,” while the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) prefers the words “sound judgment.”  The KJV (King James Version) and the NKJV translate the third quality “a sound mind.” Taken together, all of these translations provide a  clearer understanding of what is intended.

Self-discipline or self-control plays a valuable role in our behavior when facing temptation, frustration, confusion, criticism, confrontation, indecision, anxiety, fear, intimidation, affliction, depression, misfortune, chaos, and loss. In all these things we must not be controlled by a spirit of timidity or fearfulness. We have been given by God a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. This is our challenge. With an understanding of what God has done and is doing in us, “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

I was on the phone asking a receptionist why information I submitted in their online portal had not received a response. After checking she answered, “There must have been a glitch.” Hmmm. That sounds like an easy excuse. I wonder how many staff errors get blamed on a computer “glitch.”

We like to pin the blame for our little mistakes and decisions on a variety of things. We blame our parents, the government, gremlins, the dog, the devil, my gender, my race, a lack of coffee, society, aliens from outer space, and God. I heard Zig Ziglar say once that his go-to excuse was, “my axe-handle broke.” He explained that when it comes to excuses, “One reason is as good as another.” It really doesn’t matter what excuse we use to dodge the blame.

Jesus told a parable about excuses. The story begins, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many” (Luke 14:16). Some of those invited gave excuses for refusing the generous invitation. One explained that he recently bought some property and he had to go see it. Another justified his refusal to attend because he just bought some oxen and needed to go test them. The third man excused himself because he was newly married. With this story in mind, imagine how ridiculous the excuses are if the invitation they were turning down was to a great supper with Jesus in eternity.

It is amazing the excuses we give to Jesus: excuses to refuse His invitation to receive His forgiveness, His love, and His offer of eternal life. We have excuses to refuse His invitation to walk with Him, follow Him, and serve Him. We have excuses to refuse His invitation to obey Him and devote our lives to Him. Refusing His invitation is about as foolish as a starving person refusing an invitation to a banquet. He offers us living water and bread of life. We offer Him lame excuses.

Here is His invitation. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).