“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2Timothy 2:1-3 NKJV)
In today’s text, Paul gives Timothy wise instructions that will be of great use to him. We can also learn much from these instructions. First, there is encouragement. As our responsibilities increase, we must become stronger in the power of God’s grace. As our knowledge expands, so should our faith. As our trials multiply, our resolution must also grow stronger and stronger. As we mature, our love for God and Christ becomes stronger. We do not stand in the power of our own might, but in his.
Second, there is responsibility. The truth of Christ must be passed on to the next generation. Paul was a first generation Christian. He had committed the message of Christ that he had received to Timothy. Now, Timothy must commit it into the hearts of the next generation of believers.
Finally, there is endurance. Despite the errors of positive affirmation theology, Christians do face sufferings and hardships. Such suffering and hardship do not come because of sin in our lives, but because we fight for Christ. Christ was “without sin, but was in all points tempted like as we are” (Heb. 4:15). Yet, Christ endured it all . . . “the shame of the cross” . . . and “the hostile opposition of sinners against himself” so that we would not be wearied and give up (Heb. 12:2-3).
We are “soldiers of Christ,” and we fight for his cause. We fight his enemies. Those enemies do not quietly lie down because we claim to be “blessed and highly favored.” They are not scared of our words. They only fear the Word of God, our prayers to God, and our dependence on God. And that is why we must “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
In this New Year, we endure because Christ endured. Because his grace endures, we will not be defeated. We will be good soldiers of Jesus Christ.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace that endures. In our fight of faith, empower us with the strength of your grace to endure all things. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in the strength of Christ’s grace,