The Grace That is in Christ Jesus

II Tim. 2:2

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus...

 

The key is grace! I am to be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And where is he? Christ in me, the hope of glory... If Christ is in me, what do I have to do to access this great source of grace? How can I unleash His mighty power? I think of Paul when he said, But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Hard work, yes, but not energized by self! How would it look if the grace of God was in vain? I think it would be not accessing it, not asking, not praying, not digging in the Word, not memorizing and meditating, and really it comes down to, not wanting to access this grace. Instead it would be living a mediocre, Christian life, following external rules with a moral world view. Can that really be what this verse is saying?

 

II Tim. 2:3-4

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

 

Suffering...What a hard word! But if I am living by grace and allowing Christ in me to shape and control my life then I will share in suffering. A servant cannot be greater than his master. Christ gave me the example of suffering when He died for me. I Pet. 3:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. This is my calling. I must suffer and follow Christ's example! Certainly for this I need all the grace that I can get! My following must be of grace! Whether I am the athlete who finished the race and followed all the rules, the hard-working farmer who gets the first fruits of his crops, or the good soldier who suffers, I must be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus...

 

 

Father,

Teach me more each day how to work hard but through Your grace. I know this in itself is a miracle. Keep me strengthened each day to rely on only You and not myself.

In His name,

Amen