Flee, Follow

1 Timothy 2:22 "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

The Bible often speaks of putting off bad things. However, it rarely stops there. Typically, it goes on to give us something to replace the old with. We put off the old man and put on the new man. Here, we flee mouthful lusts, but we don't just run away from the bad, we run toward the good. We run toward righteousness, faith, love, peace, and fellowship with those who are seeking God.

It is interesting too that we "flee" youthful lusts but we "follow" the good things. That implies that those lusts will chase us down, trying to destroy. However, these good things of God are there to lead us somewhere. They will lead us to a strong relationship with our Heavenly Father and with fellow believers.

Am I allowing youthful lusts to chase me down? Or am I fleeing in the opposite direction? Do righteousness, faith, love, peace, and fellowship with other sincere believers define my life?

Grace Strong

2 Timothy 2:1 "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

Paul could have admonished Timothy to be strong in a lot of different things. He could have told him to be strong in the strength of Christ Jesus. Or he could have told him to be strong in the power of Christ Jesus. However, Paul very specifically tells Timothy that the strength he needs is going to be found in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Paul knew that hard times were coming for young Timothy. That he would need the power of God working in him in order to get through. Paul also knew that the strength Timothy would need could only come from one place - the grace, the good will, loving-kindness, and favor of Christ Jesus.

Why is that? What is it about grace that gives us strength more than the dozens of other words that Paul could have used?

Imagine, serving an all powerful monarch here on earth. This monarch has given us a job to do, a job that will be hard and require much strength. But we know that we have the good will, loving-kindness, and favor of this monarch. If that was the case, how much strength, both literally and figuratively, do you think that would give you as a loyal servant of that king?

We serve the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is pouring out His grace on us. How can I find strength in that grace today?