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Be intense and extreme!

2 Timothy 2:1 (Amp) says: “So you, my son, be strong [constantly strengthened] and empowered in the grace that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus.” To be strong is to have physical, moral or intellectual power. It also means: one who is not mild or weak; intense and extreme. Paul told Timothy to be strong and constantly strengthened in the grace that is ONLY FOUND in Christ Jesus! Notice that it says that we are to be strengthened constantly! It’s a daily discipline. We need to be intense and extreme in our pursuing the strength that is found in His grace! It’s time to go all in. Become a radical disciple of Christ. Let the world see Jesus in you! Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). When the storms come, they won’t overwhelm you. When the fire comes, it won’t burn you. When the flood comes, it won’t drown you. Why, because you are strong in His grace. And where do we find this strength and grace? Well, it’s like Paul said. It’s only found in Christ Jesus!

2 Timothy 2:1 “So you, my son, be strong [constantly strengthened] and empowered in the grace that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus.”

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He did this for us because of grace!

We Christians have a saying which is true every single day: “God is good, all the time!” However, we can lose the power and revelation of a saying during the process of time if we are not careful. Yes, God is good, but have you stopped to meditate why we declare that as a congregation. Consider what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God” Ephesians 2:8 (Amp). Not only did He love us with a kind of love that we cannot understand, He was the one that drew us to Christ by His Spirit. Not only that, He became flesh and died on a cross for us. Not only that, He did all of that while we were yet enemies and separated from Him. He delivered us from judgement and gave us eternal life. And, we did nothing to deserve this love. It came from His undeserved gracious love. It is a gift of the highest order. So next time you declare “God is good, all the time,” stop a moment to really thank Him for this great grace, favor and love that He bestowed on us through Christ Jesus. After all, isn’t He worthy of our praise, gratitude and appreciation? Let’s say it together right now: GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!

Ephesians 2:8 (Amp) “For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God”