Paul wrote to Timothy: “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1). It is instructive to note what Paul did NOT say here; he did not urge Timothy to be strengthened by what I call the 5 P’s . . .
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Power
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Position
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Prosperity
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Prestige
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Pleasure
Paul’s instruction was clear. Timothy was to be strengthened by the grace of God. This grace, which all Christians have been given, is as undeserved and unmerited as it is unlimited. Flowing directly from the Fountainhead Himself, the grace of Christ is without measure and readily available to all who trust in Him.
The problem for many Christians today is that they do not understand the role of grace after salvation (being raised from death to life) and prior to glorification (eternally received into the presence of the King). This period of time in between is called sanctification; it is the time you are actually running your race. Sanctification is the process of growing up into Christ, and this too is all of grace. We don’t begin the race in grace, finish the race in grace, but run the race in our own strength. We have not been called by God to run by the sweat of our own spiritual strength. Galatians 3:3 makes this perfectly clear: “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”
Everything about the Christian life is based on God’s grace. The race begins in grace, is run in grace, and is finished in grace. Along the way, every physical and spiritual blessing we receive flows from His inexhaustible reservoir of grace. We strive in grace, we suffer in grace, and we succeed in grace. It is all of grace! Yet we are the ones called by God to run our own race. We will give an account to Christ at the end of time regarding how well or how poorly we have run (2 Corinthians 5:10). The only way we will succeed in this is by knowing it is all of grace. You see, it is grace that motivates us to continue running when we would rather not.
So regardless of where you are right now in the race that God has set before you, whether you feel like you are loping downhill or trudg0ing uphill, the final outcome of your race has already been settled by the cross work of Christ. He who began your race has promised to complete it (Philippians 1:6) and His promise is not conditional. It is not based on your performance along the way. The “score” has been settled by your Lord, who hung on that cross for you. When He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30), He meant what He said!
God neither grants nor withholds blessings based on your performance in the race. It is always based on what Christ has already accomplished on your behalf. This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT…AMEN!
Grace for the Race 