Be Strong in Grace

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

“Be strong.” How often has someone told you that? “Be strong.” There are so many occasions when strength is needed. From a piano recital or soccer game to a final exam or job interview to a parenting decision or work conflict or deadly disease: “Be strong.” It’s good for all of us to hear those words!

But are they true for you? Are you strong? “Be strong” is easy to say, but to actually be strong is a different matter. Doubt and anxiety grip our hearts. Guilt over past sins and fears about past failures weigh down our souls. “Be strong?” How? We feel so weak.

That’s why Paul told Timothy exactly where his strength had to come from: “Be strong in the grace…” Timothy’s strength couldn’t come from Timothy himself. His strength had to come from outside himself. It had to come from God’s grace—God’s undeserved love for sinners. God loved Timothy, even though he was a sinner. God had saved Timothy, even though he didn’t deserve it.

How? “In Christ Jesus.” God’s grace is always connected to Christ Jesus. In amazing grace, Jesus gave his life to forgive our sins and win eternal life for us. When you realize that you’re loved like that, when you comprehend that nothing can separate you from Jesus’ love, do you know what that makes you? Strong!

Grace makes you strong! Who you are isn’t based on your performance today. You are already the beloved child of God! Whether you matter doesn’t depend on how others treat you today. Jesus considered you worth his death on the cross. You can have peace in your heart, even if your life seems filled with conflicts, because you have peace with God through faith in Jesus. So, be strong in grace! 

That’s worth passing on. Paul urgently encouraged Pastor Timothy to entrust this teaching of God’s grace to other faithful men who could in turn teach it to others. The training of future pastors is a vital responsibility of God’s church. We need a constant stream of reliable pastors to tell us what we really need to hear: “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

Dear Jesus, you promise that your grace is all I need to be strong. No matter what I face today, no matter who confronts me today, make me strong in your grace. Amen.

Pastor Nathan