Supported by Grace: Working hard for a faithful God
Introduction:
The phrase in v1, be strong is indeed an important encouragement. You also find this in the familiar OT passage of Joshua 1 where God encourages Joshua to be strong in taking Israel forward in their journey to the Promised Land.
Here, Paul knew that Timothy would need that similar strength as Joshua as a young man needed it in the past; strength and endurance to fulfill the calling God gave him.
This is one of the twenty-five times Paul encouraged Timothy to be strong and endure in his work in Ephesus.
It is possible that Timothy was naturally timid and easily discouraged, or perhaps he was a man of normal courage who had great responsibilities. And therefore he needed to be told often, “be strong.”
Since, we all must receive this strength from time to time, Paul also had to encourage Timothy to be strong.
God makes the resource of His strength available to us.
Ephesians 6:10-11 = Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Yet this strength does not come as we sit back passively and suppose that God will simply pour it into us. He brings His strength to us as we seek and rely on His grace.
Now Paul tells Timothy a specific way to be strong – that is, to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. This strength in grace is essential for a strong Christian life.
“Grace” here has its simplest theological meaning, as the divine help, or the unmerited gift of assistance that comes from God.
Resting in this grace that is in Christ Jesus, gives us confidence and boldness that we need at any given point of challenge in life.
Now the strength that comes by grace that is in Christ Jesus enables us to say:
- “I am a child of God”
- “I have the love and favour of God even though I don’t deserve it.”
Paul knew exactly what it was like to receive the strength of God’s grace in Christ Jesus, as he explained in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: God said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Apostle Paul could encourage Timothy like this from his own life experience.
Paul is actually calling Timothy to join him in “suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (v3) Paul is calling Timothy to a tough job description that involves dedication, hard work, selflessness as a soldier.
But in reality we fail at times to be faithful to God and we also fail to be God’s good soldiers. And therefore Paul emphasises in the opening phrase: “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
Why in the grace that is in Christ Jesus?
i. Because Jesus who is full of grace alone can help us overcome our frailties and fragilities.
ii. And Jesus empathizes with our weaknesses and forgives our failures (Heb. 4:15).
Here, Paul's words include a positive tone as he begins his list of word pictures. So his point to Timothy is: ‘Timothy, your strength is not found in yourself, but in the grace of Jesus.’
Grace is not only the source of salvation (Acts 18:27; Ephesians 2:8–9) but it is also the power for the Christian's daily life which is filled with challenges, weaknesses and fragility.
We start in grace; we stand in grace (Romans 5:2), and are strengthened in grace in our weak moments, in our laxity, in our confusion, in our lack of energy and wisdom.
This is comforting for us, as limited human beings, since we often feel weak and inconsistent emotionally, spiritually and intellectually and in all of life basically. But His grace is eternal and invincible!
There is no expiry for God’s grace. We may age but grace is eternal. And therefore His grace is sufficient over and above my limitations that come with age, my challenge with temptations during spiritual warfare, and my struggle with sinful nature.
Sometimes in our moments of greatest blunder, it can be easy to believe that it’s all over now; that we’ve lost our chance at a life of purpose, holiness and value.
Many feel they have become old and that their intellectual capacity has become weak and they can’t remember things, but through grace in Christ Jesus God can strengthen and help anyone irrespective of age limit and also over and above our human weakness.
God used Moses when we was 80 years old by bestowing upon him ability, authority, strength and miraculous gifting.
When you think about the good news of God’s love administered through grace in Jesus, then it’s not too late. You will realize with wonder that God still has a future for me.
And it’s a future that can neither be earned nor lost, but it’s a future dependent only of God’s extravagant grace and power (2 Pt. 1:2-3).
So with that in mind, work hard this month for a faithful God because you are supported by His grace.
The moment you feel lazy – tell God “Lord I need your grace now, pull me up from the pit of laziness and make me active.”
The moment you realize you’re backsliding – pray to God, “Lord I want your grace to push me away from the spirit of sin and help me be consistent in righteousness.”
The moment you know you lost your love for someone in the family – take it to God, “Lord I need your grace to help me love that person.”
The moment you’ve found that you need a miracle, a healing, then talk it over with the Lord, “I need your grace God… for a breakthrough in my body.”
Few days back, an elderly woman had called and she was expressing to me as to how troubled she has become concerning how people are deceiving her when transacting money. She was telling me that she was losing money in thousands to strangers. And then she asked me whether she was under a curse. I told her to ask for the grace of God to help her be attentive and discerning in her day to day life.
May be some of us need the grace of God to be discerning and attentive in our dealings, on the road, in our relationship with people, and so on…
My dear friends this month reach out to the grace of God and work hard for a faithful God; you can work hard to become holy through grace, righteous, merciful, fruitful through His grace, because you are supported by grace in Christ Jesus.
Don’t swallow your defeats and weaknesses and don’t learn to live with them. The moment you start pleading for the grace of God against your weaknesses, you will be supported by His grace – not to worry!
Where do we need God’s grace to help us be more than conquerors through him who loved us? (Rom. 8:37).
Let this month conclude with joy and a true feeling of fulfilment for each one of you supported by the grace of God demonstrated through the cross of Jesus.
