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

Power is the measure of our capacity or ability to do the positive or resist the negative.  The measure of the power is our strength.  The source of our power remains a secret to so many of us.  We don’t know where to turn when our strength seems tapped out.   How can I identify my strengths and weaknesses?

 

Do the positive:  Knowing the positive is one purpose of a daily familiarity with the Bible and the lessons it presents.  Doing the positive is the application of all that I have learned and the expectation that the outcome I read about in the Bible is the outcome I can expect in my life.  See if you can make yourself do the positive and measure the results.  Can you keep it up or are you all talk?

 

Resisting the negative:  Perhaps even more difficult than doing the positive is developing the strength to resist the negative.   The motion of sin is pointed directly at our weakness where we have little strength.  Our reserve of strength  goes unused and we fall to our weaknesses.   Be honest with yourself about how often you fall prey to weights and the sins that so easily beset you.  What is your track record.  Is it one you would be proud of?  Now you know how strong you are when it comes to resisting the negative.

 

How do I draw strength from grace:  Understand that anything connected with Jesus Christ is powerful.  Grace is a favor shown to us by God that we have neither earned nor deserve.   Be strong, do right, resist wrong because you can.  Here are two things to practice this week to help develop your ability to use the strength found in Jesus Christ.

 

  1. Learn to make the Bible a part of your normal daily toolbox.  Along with your cell phone and daytimer, keep the Bible with you and handy all day.  Read from proverbs when you are tempted to do wrong.
  2. Learn to write down from what you read a positive thing to do and the outcome that will occur.  Luke 6:38 is a good place to start.  Give someone some help or even some kind words.  Do the positive.