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Be Strong in His Grace, September 10
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the
things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit
thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2:1, 2
.
The lessons contained in the words of Paul to Timothy are of the greatest
importance to us today. He charges him to “be strong”—in his own wisdom? No,
but “in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” He who would be a follower of Christ is
not to rely upon his own capabilities, or to feel confident in himself. Neither is to be
dwarfed in his religious efforts, to shun responsibilities, and remain inefficient in
the cause of God. He is to draw strength from a sure and safe source, that never fails
those who would have divine power. The exhortation to us is, “Be strong in the grace
that is in Christ Jesus.” If the Christian feels his weakness, his inability, by putting
his trust in God, he will find the grace of Christ sufficient for every emergency.
The soldier of Christ must meet many forms of temptation, and resist and over-
come them. The fiercer the conflict, the greater the supply of grace to meet the
need of the soul; and the very nature of the grace received will enlarge the capacity
of the servant of Christ to know God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent. The
soul of the believer will go out in intense longing to know and understand more of
the truth and righteousness of Christ. All who advance in the divine life will have
increased ability to search for truth as for hid treasure, and will appropriate the truth
to their own souls. The true Christian will understand what it means to pass through
severe conflicts and trying experiences; but he will steadily increase in the grace
of Christ to meet successfully the enemy of his soul, who works through human
agency to cause the ruin of the servants of Christ. By passing through severe ordeals
of trial, the follower of Christ will better understand the ways of God and the plan of
redemption, and will not be ignorant of the devices of the enemy. The darkness will
press upon his soul at times; but the true light will shine, the bright beams of the
Sun of Righteousness will dispel the gloom; and although Satan seeks in every way
to discourage him by presenting obstacles before him, through the grace of Christ
he will be enabled to be a faithful witness of the things which he has heard from the
inspired messenger of God. He does not despise or neglect the message received,
but commits his knowledge to faithful men, who in their turn are to be able to teach
others also. In communicating the light to others, the Christian proves the truth of
the word that “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more
unto the perfect day” (
Proverbs 4:18
) (
The Review and Herald, June 16, 1896
).
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