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II Timothy 1:2, "To Timothy,
my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ
Jesus our Lord."
This morning, our thoughts are upon broadening a previous thought to encompass
more ground in its application. There are many times in Scriptures when certain
passages are critical to be understood in their application to a certain focus
group, but a little more prodding will discover some territory for people
outside that group. The books of Timothy and Titus are, rightfully so, in a
primary focus of one minister to another. Yet, these rich books from the older
man to the younger man show him things that are just as good for the people he
serves as they are for him. For example, this second epistle to Timothy has a
verse that describes the command and benefit of studying the Scriptures. (II
Timothy 2:15) Is that verse restrictive to the ministry being the only ones that
should study? Certainly not, even though Paul's primary point was to Timothy,
but we all who follow after should be found so doing. Therefore, let us
investigate a point we have previously examined in a slightly broader scope.
Our verse above contains similar language to I Timothy 1:2 and Titus 1:4. In
each opening of the epistle to the young ministers, Paul invokes "grace, mercy,
and peace." However, this is slightly different than his invocation to church
epistles, such as Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, etc. In those invocations, we read
of "grace and peace" with the absence of mercy like we find in these ministerial
epistles. As we have often laboured in the past to show, ministers stand in
great need of mercy, and therefore, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to include
"mercy" in the address here. Those points are all true, but let us try, this
morning, to examine this from the broader perspective of individuals as opposed
to the church. Many times, things appear the same for individuals as they do for
the church (such as the necessity of prayer), but other things cannot be had in
an individual sense like they can in a church sense (like gospel preaching).
To begin to look into this thought, we need to first identify the correlation
between grace and mercy. Most importantly, we need to understand, are they
different? If so, how so? Grace has many different applications and
connotations, but its most basic sense means "receiving something not deserved
or merited." Oftentimes, we refer to the grace of Almighty God in our redemption
and salvation as God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Yet, the acronym of the word
still comes to receiving something undeserved. Mercy, on the other hand, is most
basically described as "not receiving something deserved." Therefore, with this
difference and correlation in mind, let us see why grace would be invoked for
both churches and individuals (particularly ministers in this case) with mercy
being invoked simply for individuals (again particularly ministers).
As grace is found in both senses, we understand that God is very good to us here
in giving us things we do not deserve. While it would be enough for us to
receive the salvation of our souls and see His face in righteousness and some
sweet day to experience complete and total satisfaction, He does exceeding
abundantly above all that we could ask or think while here in His church.
(Ephesians 2:20) The manna from heaven that we have doled out here is sometimes
like the windows being opened with not the room to contain or keep what He pours
forth. Friends, this is timely grace to its most gracious degree here. As He
gives us the earnest of our inheritance here, we feel close to heaven's gates
and can almost reach out and touch it. As we walk with God from day to day,
conversing with our Father and Brother, sometimes we feel we can reach out and
touch Him. These times of fellowship, whether in the church in the former or as
individuals in the latter,
constitute receiving grace from Him here.
Mercy can be found in both cases like the grace, but Paul was inspired to pen it
down for the one and not the other. The difference between the church scene and
individual scene can be explained in many different ways, but one of my
favourites is like the difference of single vs married people. As two become one
in marriage, they are two persons with one life. Each of them has a fully
functioning body with a rational mind, but certain elements of the relationship
transform (or at least they should) from the way a person is while single. The
sorrows experienced should be halved in their suffering. Since there are two as
one, both should be able to help each other bear the load. On the other hand,
joys and happiness should be doubled in their enjoyment. Since two are
experiencing joys as one, the peace and tenderness needs to abound twice as much
for that one life. Single people have the position of needing to bear things
alone and enjoy things alone (at certain times).
One may say, "Where does this lead us preacher?" Simply put, being in a church
scene is like marriage as we come together as the members and bride of Christ.
During this scene, we need to be halving each others' sorrows so that no one
member must suffer alone. We experience these times of distress together and
serve to help one another down life's uneven pathway. However, during our
blissful times, we need to be "contagiously rubbing off on each other" with our
joy and happiness so that it doubles and increases. As we experience these
times, we are able to joyfully rise to a place unreachable as individuals. In
the first instance, the sharing of troubles alleviates some of the burden and
distress from us. In other words, we are not receiving the full weight of
something we suffer (mercy). In the second instance, the compounded benefit of
joy gives something previously out of reach to us (grace).
On the individual's side (particularly preachers), we stand in need of the grace
(receiving good things) as the church does. We need His graces to get us through
different events and cleave to things that He shows us as rich treasures of
grace in this old world. Manna from heaven is needed on more than Sunday morning
as our souls become very hungry between feeding. Therefore, we need daily graces
from His throne to help us in our present hour, and when these graces come, we
feel the nourishment and strength to continue on. Much like the refreshing food
to the body, the manna to the soul revives the spirit to soldier on another
battle. But, what happens when troubles and trials come? In a church sense, we
have someone to help us lift and bear one anothers' burdens, but individuals
must bear their own burdens. (Galatians 6:1-6)
Therefore, we see that churches and individuals stand in need of graces as
nourishment and sustenance. But, individuals stand more in need of mercy from
day to day as they must bear burdens without a friendly shoulder to lean on.
Ministers must labour in the word and seek to rule well as shepherds to God's
heritage. Sometimes this labour is much alone and isolated with the Lord alone
as the help in time of need. Sometimes church members (during the week while
alone from their brethren) face consternation and ridicule for what they think.
During these times, we need some alleviation (mercy) from God's hand to give
rest to the laden-down soul. Is it not easy to bear and work and labour while
surrounded by your brethren and kindred in Christ? Does it not feel sometimes
like the journey is so much easier than we once thought? With all those friendly
hands helping lift the sorrows and exchange the experiences of joy, we are
lifted up and made to
rejoice in the lightness of the feeling. However, when alone during the week, we
find ourselves crying out to God for mercy to relieve the suffering.
May we, as individuals parted from one another at times, constantly invoke the
grace, mercy, and peace for ourselves and one another that we stand so in need
of when by ourselves. May we pray for our ministers, our fathers, mothers,
children, brothers, sisters, friends, and neighbours as they go through things
without friendly faces to lean upon. May we thank God for the mercy we
experience from His hand while alone and feel with like-minded brethren. May we
most of all thank Him for His grace of all kinds in all seasons and in all
places, for we are not worthy of the least of them but should be most thankful
for all of them. Finally, let us consider these things, whether in the
individual or church arena, with the foremost thought that the One that grants
mercy is the same one that grants grace and is the same one that gives us
brethren a hundred fold more now in this life (even amidst persecutions) and is
the same one that gives eternal life in that world to come. (Mark 10:29-30)
In Hope,
Bro Philip
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