Grace Throgh the Challenges

Hebrews 13:23-25 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. 24 Greet all your leaders and all God’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. 25 Grace be with you all.
 
WHEN reading through the Bible, you will first meet Timothy in Acts 16. The apostle Paul is on his second missionary journey, and he invites Timothy, still in his parents’ household, to join him. Timothy became Paul’s helper for an extended time. He is with Paul on mission to new territory, developing new churches. Timothy is also listed as a co-author of some of Paul’s epistles. Eventually Timothy becomes the leader of the church in Ephesus. And Paul addresses two letters to him. Many consider 2 Timothy Paul’s last epistle.
   This is the only reference to Timothy having been in jail. With that in mind, does it make sense for the Hebrews writer to close with, “Grace be with you all.” How does one see God’s grace when a strong, respected church leader is subject to imprisonment?
   Sometimes God’s grace is most apparent when his people are under threat. If we go along easily in life, we may forget who is guiding our life. Each day is a gracious gift from God to enjoy him and to help others enjoy him, too. But our minds are distracted. We too seldom stop for a moment of reflection on God’s magnificent care through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
   God’s grace helps us through the challenges. He is available to us for strength, comfort and care when we have no place to turn. Grace is God’s favor, his kindness and his friendship. He makes himself known through people he sends to encourage you. And when you open the Bible, you read of God’s ever-present mercy to reveal himself to you.
   You also see God’s compassion even when Israel is exiled to Babylon, and the church is persecuted. God graciously sends prophets and teachers to remind his faithful he is our ever-present help in trouble. Grace allows us to be still and know he is God. (from Psalm 46:1&10)
   In his grace, Jesus has sent the Helper, the Counselor to aid us in our need: John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. How good it is to know the Spirit, who dwells in us.
   Grace is knowing your life is not your own. You belong to God because he has made it happen. Grace is the outpouring of God’s love to save you: Ephesians 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. 
   Your life in Christ is God’s grace to free you from captivity. Regardless of your earthly circumstances, you will always be free in Jesus Christ.
   May God’s grace be with you as you recognize his eternal care upon your soul. He is with you wherever you are.