Be Strong in Grace...

You therefore, my son, (my daughters) be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.--2nd Timothy 2:1

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

This one really spoke to my heart.  I am getting older.  I see some of my closest friends suffering through serious illness...I see the same in my own family.  I also see the effect of sin and the terrible grief and sadness it produces.  I see the consequences of it years later.  The older I get the harder it is to be strong in myself.  To grit my teeth and just get through this life.  This life is meant to break us girls.  It is meant to drive us to our Savior.  We are suppose to see our weakness and our inability to make anything work or do any good for any length of time. That is God's mercy and compassion at work. He does not want any of us to perish but for all to come to life in His Son.  His desire is that we come to Him in our brokenness and admit our need.  It is then that He can give us new life and continually supply us with His grace in our time of need.

I am so glad Paul did not say...get a grip Timothy...stop complaining....be strong in yourself.  Paul told his precious son in the faith that he was never to see again in this world, to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  Paul says this in 1 Corinthians about his own ministry:  "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." Be strong in God's undeserved favor on your behalf. We are saved by grace, and we are to walk in grace.  We have this treasure, Christ, in our earthen vessels. We are to trust completely in Him and His power to get us through.  Surrender is the way to victory.


It is so good to remember this especially when we are ill,  or weak emotionally or when we are having a day when we are feeling inferior to those around us.  I only have to be strong in His grace...it is not me...I don't have to be impressive....I can surrender and leave the results to Him. 


But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.  But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”--1 Corinthians 1:27-31

How freeing...how relieving.  How wonderful it is to remember that I am a foolish thing that God has chosen to use for His purpose and His plan.  I can relax and let Him do the work. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.--Ephesians 2:8-9

Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus...

Love
Mom