Your Source of strength – Wednesday, 02 August
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Ephesians 6:10 King James Version (KJV)
Scripture tells us to “be strong in the Lord”. That means that you should be trusting in His ability and power in you and through you – not in your talents, abilities or strength. True strength is found in Christ and flows from Christ.
“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 New King James Version (NKJV)
When Paul uses the word infirmities he isn’t referring to sickness, physical weakness, poverty or sin, but rather he’s referring to the hardships that he suffered because he was preaching the Gospel (Paul lists his infirmities, or hardships, in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30).
God’s power and strength (grace) enabled Paul to endure under persecution (hardships) and to continue to boldly preach the Gospel for which he was being persecuted.
Paul had many reasons to trust in himself – he actually had more reason to trust in himself than any of his critics. And yet in Philippians 3:7-8 when he lists his impressive accomplishments he states for the record that he considers all of them as dung and chooses to rather rely on and trust in Christ.
If we want to see the power of God at work in our lives and through us, then we need to cease from our efforts to deserve it and start looking to Jesus and believing that it is completely unearned, undeserved and unmerited favour (grace).
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
Romans 11:6 King James Version (KJV)
It all comes down to this: are you trusting in God (grace) or trusting in self (works)? It’s easy to say that you trust in God for salvation by grace (Ephesians 2:8), but many believers leave it there and live their Christian lives trusting in self, not God. You will never experience the abundant life in Christ while you are trusting in and relying on yourself. Paul said that the same way in which we received Jesus is the way we walk in Him (Colossians 2:6). You cannot earn or deserve the blessing of God, healing, provision or miracles. It’s by grace: undeserved, unearned, unmerited favour. The end of trusting in your self is the beginning of God’s grace working in your life.
“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
2 Timothy 2:1 King James Version (KJV)
We often feel like we have to be strong in difficult times, or that our success is dependent on how strong we are. But as long as you’re trying to be strong in and of yourself, your success will always be short-lived and limited. Look to Jesus and be strong in Him. Trust and rely fully on His unmerited, unearned and undeserved favour.
Much love,
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