Be Strong

DEVOTION
2 TIMOTHY

BE STRONG

2 Tim 2:1-2
2:1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
NIV

Here is where I think I could deal in two ways with this being strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Could it be that I should be empowered by the divine influence upon my heart because of Jesus? Or could it be that I should act in a gracious manner with great power because of the gracious act of Jesus Christ. Or actually should I just be strong because of the act of graciousness of Christ Jesus? I think the true application here is for me to be strong in my convictions because of my union with Christ and thus when I am faced either with temptations or hardships I should rely on the strength which comes from his influence upon my heart. The knowing of his truth, the understanding of his direction for me, the sense of his divine guidance for me all should give me strength to overcome both temptations and trials. The center of all this is, of course, my openness, my willingness to listen, to hear, and to obey that guidance. That is where the rub is because that old self still tries to get me to do it my way, not his. I do wonder sometimes way my way is not his way. Should I not want to do it his way? I do, yet my way still gets my attention. It is a journey, a constant growing experience, never to be finished until I step into eternity. I do not think I shall ever achieve perfection here; I shall always be in need of the grace of my lord Jesus Christ. I will always be trying to be strong, buy ever quite ever be strong enough. The strength I want to have I do not, and the weakness I do not want to have, I do. The other issue does imply the need to pass on the truth to others so they in turn can pass it on. I hope I can fulfill that. Through preaching, teaching, and writing I make an effort to share the truth of the scriptures so others will do the same somehow. I think too many have been ensnared by tradition, by doctrines, by laws and regulations of men, rather than by truth. But I still have to come back to that idea of thinking I have the truth. What makes me think I have the right thinking and others do not? It seems it always comes back to this. I am sure others know the truth too. I am sure I am not the only one, but still I believe I have the obligation to share the truth with others anyway. Maybe there are some of them who have gotten a little more involved in traditional concepts rather than the pure truth. Maybe some of them are only seeing some truth and not all of it. I don’t really know for sure, but I know I have to share what God has revealed to me. And I have to be strong.