Monday, September 25, 2017

September 25, 2017


Be Strong in Grace


“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”  2 Tim. 2:1

Paul is encouraging Timothy to be “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”  It sounds a bit odd – the expression, “be strong in grace.”  Grace is undeserved and unmerited favor of God to us.  Grace’s greatest display was Jesus.  The earthly ministry of the Messiah ushered in a remarkable, transformative age of grace.  We live in that age.


So we think back to the gospel accounts of Jesus and His grace which was lavished upon people.  It is quite a line up: tax collectors; adulteresses; fishermen; Pharisees; the blind; the lost; the forgotten; the excluded.  The list included Jews and gentiles; men and women and children.  To each one Jesus offered great gifts of grace.  He was resolute and intentional in doing so.  His ministry forms some important patterns for us to learn from and do our best to follow.


Let us be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and by the power of His Spirit who dwells within us, show grace to those we meet.  May we be giving to the undeserving.  May we show kindness and gentleness and yes, be strong about it.  As we grow in grace, let us pray that we grow in extending that grace to others.

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