MY STRENGTH OR HIS

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  (Philippians 4:13)

It’s still hard for me to not see Pastor Bill Raws here at America’s Keswick. He was a part of this ministry for well over 50+ years. He went home to be with Jesus in July 2008.

Today’s devotional is powerful and is from our daily devotional, REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE:

Many Christians have found that they lack the spiritual strength to handle life’s pressures.  Some sincerely search for a resource of strength outside of themselves for facing life’s demands.  While they flounder and fail, the Bible offers the solution – divine strength.

The Apostle Paul describes the struggle to live a life conforming to God’s standard (Romans 7:14-25).  His best efforts led to failure and frustration.  It is only at the end of this passage that he hints at the solution, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  In Philippians 4:13 he was able to clarify this by a complementary statement – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Instead of the frustrating failures of Romans 7, the Philippians passage declares confidently that he could do all things, meet all of the demands, face all of the limitations, and handle any abundance.  He was particularly speaking about the uncertainties of his ministry support level, but the principle which he declares is applicable to any area of the Christian life.

If Paul had placed a period after the opening clause of Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things,” it would have been a lie.   Neither he nor we can claim such a thing concerning Christian living.  We don’t have the strength.  God doesn’t expect us to be able to do this.  He knows we can’t.  However, the provision has already been made for our meeting all of the demands of the Christian life and service.  It is found in the latter part of the verse, “through Christ who strengthens me.”

God doesn’t issue us a do-it-yourself kit for living the Christian life.  Our only hope of measuring up to His standard and meeting life’s demands lies in Christ.  We must be careful to complete the statement along with the Apostle Paul, – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” William A. Raws

Team YOU: Psalm 1-3; Proverbs 11; Acts 17-15

Motivations: The world does not need more Christian writers — it needs more good writers and composers who are Christians. C. S. Lewis

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Philippians 2:4; Level 2: Philippians 2:5-11

Powered Up:  We ask what we think to be best; God gives us what we know to be best. William Burkitt