Strengthened by GraceУзор

Share in Suffering

Although I never knew him because he passed away when I was an infant, my Grandpa Carl had a significant impact on me. I learned from him through the stories my father told me about him. My dad’s parenting was influenced by the wisdom and teaching examples he received from his father. Our entire family benefited from grandpa’s legacy of hard work, giving, caring for others, and going the extra mile. His character still lives on in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Paul, although he never knew Jesus in person, did not merely hear stories, teaching, and instruction about Jesus; he was lovingly instructed by Him directly and knew Him intimately through His Spirit. Paul was in Christ, and Christ was in him. Paul conferred to Timothy, his child in the faith, what Christ had taught him. This wisdom was not man’s wisdom, man’s reasoning, human tradition, or something of Paul’s own making, but it came to him through a revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:11-12). Paul now entrusts the sound words he received to his beloved disciple.

Times are tough for Paul. All in Asia have turned away from his teaching. Demas was carried away by his love of the world, and the time was coming when people would not tolerate sound doctrine but wanted ideas that appealed to their passions and human reasoning. Under these circumstances and with his impending death on the horizon, Paul passes the baton of the gospel from Christ to Paul, Paul to Timothy, and Timothy was commissioned to pass it on to others. Timothy must be ready. Times will be tough. He must be prepared to be strong. Paul will be gone, and much will be expected of him. Timothy will be responsible for guarding the gospel and passing it on to faithful men who can carry it forward. Knowing this, Paul encourages him to press in and persevere. In love, he says, “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tm. 2:1 ESV).

All those called to serve God must stir up the gift of faith and grace that God has given them. Like Timothy, we, too, must find our strength in Christ. God has provided us with everything we need for every trial, heartache, betrayal, loss, and fear. The same grace that saved you will enable you to walk through what you are experiencing now or tomorrow as you look to Christ by faith.