Take Your Vitamins
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ~2 Timothy 2:1
Vitamins are essential for strong and healthy bodies. Eating the right food sources is important for obtaining vitamins for our bodies. Taking multivitamin supplements helps us to get the minimum daily requirement of vitamins. This morning, we need to consider a daily essential of a spiritual vitamin that we need in order to withstand the challenges and problems that we will face. This one essential is the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
There is the reality of depletion.
We must face the reality that we can become depleted in our spiritual resources, especially God’s grace. We will many times exhaust our usage of God’s grace and find ourselves trying to endure hardship in our own power. We soon discover that our power is insufficient. We realize that our power is no substitute for the grace that God desires us to draw upon. Are you depleted in your patience, your passion, your power, and your people tolerance? Are you at the bottom of the barrel scraping away for something to keep you going?
There is the rigorous directive.
Paul recognized that Timothy was not performing at the level that he once was. His gift of preaching needed stirring. His proclamation of the gospel was waning, and he was ashamed of sharing the gospel. Timothy was discouraged that Paul was in prison and facing execution. He was discouraged that he hit a wall in his effectiveness for the Lord. So, Paul gives a directive to Timothy. He instructs him to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. He encouraged Timothy to get back to his vitamin and power source. He told Timothy to focus on being strong in the grace of the Lord. To do this meant that his eyes needed to be less on the problems and more on the Lord. To do this, he needed to call upon the Lord to make His strength perfect in his weakness. He needed to keep himself in the love of God. He needed to get back to the place where his soul life was being replenished and strengthened in the Word of God and prayer.
There is the remarkable demonstration.
Being strong in the grace of the Lord means you realize that God’s grace is sufficient for you. His grace sustains you in spite of sadness, weakness, discouragement, and disappointment. Being strong in the grace of the Lord is having a teachable spirit. Grace teaches us that "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world...." Grace enables us to serve the Lord acceptably. Instead of serving in weakness, we serve with enthusiasm and joy. Grace keeps us going when we do not feel like going. Grace takes away our insecurity and keeps us dwelling in the love that God has for us. Grace enables us to face our problems head-on and not adopt a spirit of quitting.
“Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” He giveth more grace! When the enemy attempts to keep us discouraged, God gives us more grace. Grace can never run out. Grace can never be overused. Grace is that spiritual vitamin that we need over and over.
Don’t allow affliction, sickness, discouragement, or weakness to disable your spiritual life. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus!
Have a grace-enriched God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Matthew 9-10