God's Gift

“Therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2Timothy 2:1)

Paul writes to Timothy and calls him son in various Scriptures. Timothy was his son in the faith. (1Timothy 2:1) Paul took the position of mentor to the young Timothy and developed in him leadership in the church. “And he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a woman who was a Jewess and who believed. But his father was a Greek. He was well reported of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted him to go with him, and taking him, he circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in those places; for they all knew that his father was a Greek.” (Acts 16:1-3) Paul commissions Timothy to the church in Ephesus to correct it. “Even as I begged you to remain at Ephesus, when I was going to Macedonia, that you might charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor to give heed to fables and endless genealogies (which provide doubts rather than the nurture of God in faith).” (1Timothy 1:3-4) In his letter to Timothy, Paul instructs him on how to choose leadership, warns him of the societal norms that creep into the church and how to recognize the wolves in sheep’s clothing.

In our Scripture Paul encourages Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Jesus. Paul especially used this phrase in greetings and in closing his letters. (Romans 1:7; Romans 16:20; Romans 16:24; Ephesians 6:23,24; 2Thessalonians 3:18) The word that was translated strong is a Greek word that means to be strengthened, enabled and empowered. Grace is undeserved favor from the Lord. It’s God’s love, mercy and compassion bestowed on us which is undeserved because of our sin nature when we were unbelievers and sinners. “But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) We didn’t earn this favor. We cannot purchase it nor gain it through any means. It is freely given. It includes God’s free gift of salvation through our faith in Jesus. “For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God’s grace also gave us the Holy Spirit Who indwells in us. He is God in us and works in us, for us and through us. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2Timothy 1:7) We cannot go wrong if we listen to God who lives in us. “Whoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” (1John 4:15-16)

Paul writes to the Corinthians that persevering in the faith, enduring persecution and adversities is being strong in the grace that we have received. “Watch! Stand fast in the faith! Be men! Be strong!” (1Corinthians 16:13) To be strong in the grace we have received is believing in the unseen. It’s enduring hardships. It’s allowing the Lord to be our strength, fight our battles and to win our victories when we are unable. “And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may overshadow me. Therefore, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am powerful.” (2Corinthians 12:9-10) It’s allowing God to do the impossible in us, for us and through us. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Ultimately, to be strong in the grace we have received is to act on our faith in God’s favor with us. But “acting” in faith has nothing to do with our abilities and knowledge but relying on the Spirit of God in us and yielding our strength to His strength and power. It’s looking to His strength, His power and His wisdom instead of ours. To be strong in the grace we’ve received is to walk a supernatural walk of faith. It’s supernatural because man usually wants to take over, but in this instance, God is in charge. It’s supernatural because God is in it.