Strengthened

Paul wrote two letters to Pastor Timothy of Ephesus. Tim lived in a sinful city with pagans and false prophets abounding and Paul wanted to help him handle pastoring a church in that environment. Paul's second letter is believed to be the last letter Paul wrote. He wrote it from prison and anticipated execution. He told Tim that God has given us a spirit not of fear, but of power, love, and self-control (2 Tim 1:7). He told him how everyone had left him and he was suffering for the gospel (2 Tim 1:11-15).

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim 2:1)

So here we have Timothy being queued up for suffering. Indeed, he tells him two verses later, "Share in suffering" (2 Tim 2:3). But he doesn't set him up for suffering alone. He is equipping him for it. How?

You might have thought of God's power. Sure. He mentioned that in the previous chapter. But that's not what Paul says here. He says that Timothy should be strengthened "by the grace that is found in Christ Jesus." Huh. What about grace brings strength?

We know that grace -- God's favor -- is given, not earned or merited (Rom 11:6). We know that grace is a gift and we know that "the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Rom 11:29). We know that "neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 8:38-39). So, grace is a free gift, good, "irrevocable," and reliable. But what is the strength involved?

Here ... maybe this will help. In Hebrews the author contrasts "strengthened by grace" with strengthened by food.

Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. (Heb 13:9)

If we replace the word "grace" with "food" just for illustration purposes, maybe you can see it. "Be strengthened by healthy food." Does that help? We know that food imparts strength. We get that. But instead of "healthy food" he says "grace." So we need to "eat grace" if we are to be strengthened. We need to be nourished by it. We need to be built up by it. We need to be fortified by the grace found in Christ. We need to rely on the grace that only Christ Jesus imparts. That grace includes our relationship with God, our intimacy with God, our adoption by God, our empowerment by the Spirit. All of that is included in the unmerited favor we receive. That's what nourishes us and, therefore, strengthens us.

We live in a sinful society filled with pagans without and false teachers within. We need to serve the Lord in this environment. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Be nourished, day by day, in Christ's amazing grace. Find your strength in His free grace and the living relationship with Him that His grace provides. His grace is generous and irrevocable, completely reliable. It is the ultimate health food for the soul.