Have you ever met someone who was unusually good at one thing.  Maybe they weren’t very athletic or smart but could sing like nobody’s business.  Maybe they weren’t good at public speaking or good with people but they could hit a golf ball like Tiger Woods.  Paul encourages Timothy to be good at one thing and to not get too entangled with other things let’s look at his words together today.

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Paul wants Timothy to be good at or strong in grace. Particularly strong in the grace that is found in Jesus.  If there is one thing that is important to be good at that is probably it.  When we rest in God’s grace and share that grace with others as we go about through life that sounds like we would be doing pretty well.  It is easy to focus on being good at lots of different things.  We want to be good at our jobs.  We want to be good at family life.  we’d like to be good at handling our finances and planning for the future.  All of these things are important yet something tells me that if we were truly good at grace much of this would fall into place pretty well.  I pray for all of us that like Timothy we would be strong in grace.  

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave