let God's grace empower you

Wednesday, February 11. 2009

Isaiah 59:15b-21; 2 Timothy 1:15-2:13; Mark 10:1-16

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, (2) and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Tim. 2:1-2)

The old RSV of this reads, "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.."

"Be strengthened by..." is a good / better translation. Or even, "be empowered by the grace that is in Christ Jesus..." would be consistent - and for me, today, more helpful. The root here is that Greek word, dunamis = power or might. Same word Jesus uses when he promises "you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you" (Acts 1:8) and that Paul uses when he prays that the Ephesians will be strengthened with power in their inner man (3:15).

Balanced with the reflection on "fan into flame" - where there is, I think, a call to effort, focus, responsibility, we have here the reminder that it is a kind of aligning with, or drawing upon, what is graciously being given and being worked in us (different word, but similar concept in Philippians 2:12-13).

Strengthen yourself in this grace; empower yourself by this grace that is yours in Messiah Jesus. Drink deep of the wellspring of life. Remain plugged in to the power source (do not circumvent the absolute trust and risk and abandonment of self and of being in control that attends drawing power from God through the Spirit, and not really and finally from yourself and your ways and maneuverings). Again, do not empower yourself by any self-source, or "earthly" source, but only that which is gifted by God.

(Today's OT reading in Isaiah is the passage where he says that the LORD put on righteousness as a breastplate and a helmet of salvation on his head... again, this armor of God is just that, God's armor, that somehow he offers us, cf. Eph. 6:13f; 1 Thess. 5:8 - be strong, empower yourself, in what God gives...).

Suffice it to say, we naturally tend to try to draw empowerment and protection from lots of other sources. The repentant life, the life of continual turning from all that is not God to God, includes this core and critical issue. Seeking empowerment and protection in some self-source or worldly source in connected to, and a very short step from, finding life, satisfaction, and peace (ie. idolatry) in that which is not God.

Remember, you received a spirit of power and love and self-control...

And then, pass on this truth to others who will also train others in it. Grace, grace, grace, grace...