Be strong in grace

Today's reading in 2 Timothy 2:1 says, "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." I was challenged, "How can I 'be strong' in grace?" I think the reality for most Christians is that we don't even know what grace actually is. Often we get it confused with mercy. Here is a simple way to remember the difference between justice, mercy and grace. If I do something wrong, God will send me to my room. That is justice. He may come to my room and say, "Well I am going to let you off the hook this time. You don't have to stay in your room." That is mercy. Or He may come to my room and say, "Hey, let's go get some ice cream and talk about what you did wrong." Now that is grace! If I am going to be 'strong in grace' that is going to require at least knowing what it is and then when God shows me grace, to accept it and rejoice in it. For some that may be difficult because they may feel like they don't deserve it. We don't that's the point! Here is another way to distinguish between mercy and grace. Mercy is not getting what I deserve and grace is getting what I don't deserve. Grace, grace, grace, oh thank you for grace. It makes life so rich and exciting!