II Timothy 2  The first verse stopped me in my tracks this morning.. "You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."   

Strong in grace.  Paul ends almost every letter with the blessing - "Grace be with you." ( or something similar).   I have been reflecting on his testimony in I Timothy 1:12-15, where Paul tells of how he was "shown mercy" even though he was a "persecutor and a violent aggressor"; saying " and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant with the faith and love found in Christ Jesus." 

Grace - charis- graciousness; the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life; acceptable; benefit; favor;  gift; joy; liberality; pleasure; thanksworthy.  

Mercy - eleeo -  to have compassion; - by divine grace; 

Paul received mercy because of the grace of God. Grace precedes mercy.  It is the grace of God that leads us to obtain the mercy of God. 

"Grace be with you.. " is a prayer for what we most need.  It is a proclamation of Who God is and our utter dependance on Him to act according to Who He is - before anything else can happen.  " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ... "  Paul prays in Ephesians 1.. "In Him we have redemption through His blood ,the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us." 

Paul says to Timothy and to us - ".. be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus..." 

We must be strong in His grace - to suffer hardship. To be a good soldier of Jesus. To compete to win the prize.  To receive the harvest that comes from hard work and diligence. To endure all things.. 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. Amen.