Tucked away in the middle of a tiny pastoral letter we find a passage that is rich in wisdom and replete in hope. These verses begin with a statement of the past, share encouragement for us in the present, and close with hope for what is to come. In meditating on this passage, I was drawn to the truth of God’s grace in the form of Jesus Christ, His instruction that we can all depend on in our present day, and the glorious Hope of His second coming.

The Greek word for grace is charis, which means “the unmerited favor of God toward man manifested primarily through the person and work of Jesus, apart from any works of man.” What a beautiful picture! This provides us with a solid foundation to understand that Jesus has gone before us and through him God looks upon us with kindness, joy, and love.

How does this apply to us today? When your days are hard, remember it is God’s grace in the person of Jesus that can carry you. God’s grace is a free gift, generously given to anyone who calls on the name of Jesus. His grace also instructs us, just as a loving parent guides a child into wisdom, pure living, and a joy-filled life.

This brings us to verse 13, which assures us that even while we live in this broken world today, we can point ourselves and others to the day when Jesus Christ comes again to set everything right. That hope is not about going to a particular place or getting glory for ourselves. It is the hope of being with Jesus Himself, face to face, closer than ever.

Note our responsibilities in each verse. God’s grace is offered to us as a free gift through no effort of our own but to receive it (v.11). We participate with Jesus, as a student with a loving teacher, to live as we are being instructed to live through His Word (v.12). Finally, “we look forward with hope” (v.13), an eager anticipation, like a child on Christmas morning, so excited to open that first Christmas present.

Today, you can be that child, sitting on the edge of your chair with bright eyes, saying, “Come, Lord Jesus, come!”