Strength

Last week we ended the blog talking about this verse, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13 NLT, and the fact that we need to find our contentment in our relationship with Christ. But this verse talks about far more than just our contentment. Paul is very clear that he can do everything through Christ. What does that mean? It means just what it says, “Everything.” Often we get it in our heads that God is only interested in our spiritual life; we try to separate our relationship with God from our everyday living. But the truth is that how we relate to God, how well we yield to God, has a huge role in our everyday responses. If I am yielded to God and I am listening to him, then I will respond to others with love and understanding.
Paul gives us insight into how we can do everything, it is “through Christ.” You and I cannot do much of anything by ourselves. Our strength and abilities are limited, and our sin nature is constantly messing with our motives and desires. God’s promise to all of his children is that he will grant us the strength and ability to do whatever he lays before us, if we rely on him. It is a strange concept when you think about it. Yielding gives me strength. Paul puts the same thought this way in 2 Corinthians, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” This idea is backwards to how we have been taught to live our lives. We are taught to be self reliant and independent. Living that way really just shows off our weakness and highlights how badly we need help.
Final thought, have you been living in your own strength proving your weakness, or have you been living in your weakness relying on God’s strength?

-Pastor Tim