January 29

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses. — 1 Tim 6:12 BSB

The main purpose of the hand is to grasp and hold onto something. The human hand, with its fingers and strong thumb, is beautifully designed by the Creator for this specific task. Every part of the hand—the muscles, veins, and nerves—work together to achieve this goal. In the same way, the office of faith is to take hold of God’s strength. The Lord says, “Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me, and he shall make peace with Me.” This taking hold of God’s strength is an act of faith. Is there any other grace that enables us to take hold of the Lord, just as Jacob held onto the angel he wrestled with, or as Peter reached out for the hand of Jesus when sinking?

Paul’s exhortation to Timothy is to “lay hold on eternal life.” How do we lay hold of eternal life, especially Jesus, who is “the Life”? It is only by faith. Jesus said, “He that believes on Me has everlasting life.” By faith, we take hold of eternal life. Similarly, we read in Hebrews 6:18 about “fleeing for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” Just as the manslayer fled to the city of refuge, finding safety when his hand grasped the gate, so too do sinners flee to Christ, and by faith, lay hold of the hope found in the gospel of grace.