May 21, 2025 -- I Timothy 6:20-21 -- Grace be with you. What is that?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.
I Timothy 6:20-21 ESV
 
Paul is writing to his dear son in the faith. There is a depth of emotion conveyed in the exclamation “o” before Timothy’s name. It is endearment. It is expressing longing to be with him in person sharing the grace of God. It also carries the weight of the command that follows, that he guard the deposit. That is, the truth of the Christian faith as it has been expressed in this letter to Timothy. The world will tear at the faith. Even some members of the church will prove themselves irreverent babblers and get so involved in the world that their passions are directed at people and things. Paul is urging believers, inviting them in the grace of God to dedicate themselves solely, exclusively, joyfully to the Living God.
 
The benediction, that is the good word from God, that concludes this letter is not a throw away line. “Grace be with you” is a sorely needed blessing to a young pastor. It is a blessing for all who read this letter. Grace is God’s decision to deal favourably with His people. The grace of God draws people back from their waywardness into relationship with Himself. Grace is the beauty of God which arrests our attention. Whereas the idols of this world and our own sinful cravings would cause us to stare at screens or engage in wicked behaviour, it is the grace of God which is so compelling that we can’t avert our eyes from Him. His grace is so irresistible that it captures our attention and stirs in us a holy desire to guard the deposit of Jesus and the testimony of His love given to us.
 
The grace of God is a shield that puts a barrier between the fiery darts of temptation this world aims at believers. The grace of God is also a reference to the Holy Spirit, Who is the Spirit of grace and supplication (Zechariah 12:10). The Holy Spirit reveals what is irreverent, what are lies and false knowledge. Perhaps you have experienced something like this before. You have eaten sweets, cakes and candies. You are sort of full, but you are longing for something else. You realize you want nourishment, protein. Something hearty. The Spirit of grace takes you from the sweet-seeming things of this world, which are sweet-poison to the soul. The Spirit of grace feeds you with all that is good and glorious.
 
Grace is the outworking of God’s covenant love.
 
O Holy One, Eternal God Most High, by Your Spirit of Grace arrest our attention so that our eyes are lifted from the irreverent things of this world so that we gaze on the beauty of Jesus. Jesus, Who is the outworking of the Father’s Old Testament covenant love. Jesus, Who is the King, defending His people and defeating all Your enemies and ours. Jesus Who is full of grace and truth, given to Your people. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/bcIA8nC39o4?si=6QmB_fMwRvQyMcDx The King in All His Beauty
 

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