Faithful by the Grace of God

This morning we continue in our study through the second letter of Paul to Timothy as we consider 2 Timothy 2:1-13. Paul calls Timothy to be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The grace of God is not just pardon, but power. God's grace both enables us to believe as well as empowers us for obedience. Timothy needs to depend upon, find strength in, and yield himself to be continually empowered by the grace of God. He needs to be strengthened by the grace of God if he's going to share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Timothy is to be strengthened by the grace of God as he remembers Jesus. Remembering Jesus is to keep Jesus central and functional in all of life. Finally, he's strengthened with the promise that if "he is faithless, he [God] remains faithful for he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:13).

As we desire to be faithful to the end, we do so as we cling to the grace of God. We pray that we would be more gripped by God's grace and that it would be more and more operative in our life. We rejoice and rest in the grace of God as we're drawn to depend upon Him more deeply and respond with wonder in worship.