Be Strong
What would you say you are strong in?
When I was a boy living in South Florida and attending elementary school in phys ed, they would have competitions. One such competition was who could do the most push-ups or sit-ups.
Every boy wanted these bragging rights. My class of boys, except for two of us, had already done their best. I was to go next. I blew everyone else away, far exceeding the number of sit-ups and pull-ups any others had done. I was so proud of myself. I thought I had secured my bragging rights.
But there was one boy left, my friend Rodney Hillsman. You can imagine the surprise on everyone’s faces when he approached the number I had set. Imagine the surprise on my face! Imagine my disappointment when he kept going beyond what I had set. My desire to brag was crushed, and my thought of being the most physical boy in my class diminished.
There are people in the world who are stronger than the acclaimed strongest man in the world. They just do not enter the competition, for it is all. In other words, there are a lot of Rodneys out there to bust our physical prowess bubbles.
Being strong is a trait many admire. But being strong physically is not necessarily a thing God is all concerned with. Though being strong is indeed something God cares about for us.
But the strong to be desired is a different kind of strong.
2Timothy 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
In these times we live in, many in the church are very committed to working out and being fit physically, which can have its benefits, no doubt. But I wonder how many are as committed, if not more, to being strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus?
When we set out to establish where our priorities should lie, being strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus should be at the top of our list.
Paul spoke of being strong, Peter spoke of growing in it, and Hebrews spoke of our hearts being established with it.
2Peter 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
I do not wish to underrate the grace given in Christ, and I especially do not wish to come up short in my understanding and possession of it.
May I encourage you today to take to heart such encouragement from Scripture? Grace is so important to our lives. Time spent being strong and growing in grace far outweighs all our other endeavors. Being strong, growing, and having our hearts established with His grace matters with God. I encourage you to walk in His grace today and always!
