October 15
‘You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.' 2 Timothy 2:1
Bible reading: 2 Corinthians 11:30-12:10 (Go to the Bible passage)
In the Bible verse of today Paul calls upon his (spiritual) son Timothy to be strong in the grace; he even commands it!
If God gave us a spirit of power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7) why then is the church of Christ often so powerless? Why is there often so little to be seen of mutual love? And if we are truly honest with ourselves, should we then not admit that we often doubt and lose heart because we perceive nothing of the power and love of God in our life?
Why is this?
Is it perhaps because we no longer know the secret of submission, of entrusting ourselves completely to Him? We do not dare anymore to be dependent on Him with all fibers of our being. That is why we go for outward unity, and in this way we try to prove ourselves to the world. We seek to establish mighty organizations and in this we uphold ourselves.
Of course a change of heart is then out of the question. But Paul - the man of whom such power went out in the churches - knew how weak he was in himself. To him God’s grace was sufficient. He boasted about his weaknesses so that Christ’s power might rest on him.
But where do we find the courage to recognize that we are nothing in ourselves? That is only possible if we put our faith completely in Him. When we find the courage in all temptations and problems to glory in His grace, God will certainly prove to be the Stronger One in us. What encouragement we will then be to the world around us, to do just like us and submit wholly to Jesus.

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