Strengthened by Grace

It has been over a month since my last post.  Typing is so difficult and I do so much of it in ministry that it is difficult to motivate myself to do more voluntarily :-).  The numbness in my hands and feet remains the same.  I am riding my bike about 18 miles three times per week but running is not possible.  I am back to full strength except for the neuropathy.  I had a CT scan earlier in September and I remain cancer free at this time.  I will be getting blood work done every three months to watch for some sort of cancer marker.  Pray that I will not complain about my numb hands and feet ( Philippians 2:14) but that I will "boast all the more gladly" of this weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Here is a verse I have been thinking about over the past month: "You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:1)  There are two questions to be answered.  For what does Timothy need strength ?  How does a person "be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus?"

If you keep reading in 2 Timothy you will discover for what Timothy needs strength .  First he needs strength to do the work of ministry, particularly for the work of faithfully passing on the gospel he was taught by Paul to "faithful men who will be able to teach others also."  The successful development of faithful teachers of the gospel requires strength that no person naturally possesses.  Second, Timothy needs strength to "suffer hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus."  Because he is a soldier of Jesus there are things which other Christians can do and enjoy but which he must voluntarily deny to himself because they do not fit the lifestyle of a soldier who aims to please the one who enlisted him.  He must embrace a life of hard work and self-denial like that of the athlete who aims to win the prize and the farmer who wants an abundant harvest.  Third, he needs strength to accept the risks entailed in faithfully preaching the gospel in the midst of a hostile culture, like his mentor Paul who was in prison for his faithfulness.  All these things require strength which he does not naturally possess.

What is the grace that is in Christ Jesus and how are we strengthened by it?  The grace that is in Christ are all the undeserved and unearned benefits which we receive because of what Christ has done for us.  To mention but a few of these gracious benefits:  forgiveness of all my sins, eternal life, being declared not guilty but perfectly righteous, adopted as God's child, an heir of God and co-heir with Christ, having Christ as my friend, my brother and my Lord, the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the promise that God is working all things for my good. the certain resurrection from the dead...and many more.

All of this grace strengthens us by means of or through faith.  I believe that all these benefits are surely mine on the basis of Christ's person and work and so I believe that I have nothing to fear. There is no loss, no pain, no suffering that can compare with all I have in Christ.  I can forgo legitimate earthly pleasures in order to obey Christ's call on my life because all denials will be more than made up for in the new heavens and the new earth.  I am able to teach this gospel with complete confidence and passion to others because of all that is mine by it.  I am weak and helpless to do and be all that God calls me to be and to do.  However all the grace I have in Christ will provide me with all the strength I need to be and do his will for me.