…and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Summary: Peter uses the language of physical strength to describe the resoluteness God gives to those who put their faith in Him.
Have you ever felt like you were weak, infirm, and a bit wobbly? I have. More so lately, it seems. Peter promises that God himself will restore us and make us strong, firm, and steadfast. Sounds good, doesn’t it? I have to wonder, though, if I understand Peter’s meaning correctly. For example, does he mean I’ll be “strong” strong, or something else?
Some people are physically intimidating because they are big and strong. Many people will never be physically big because of their genetics. Does Peter mean that God will make those people bigger and stronger? It is possible, I suppose, but I don’t think Peter was thinking about physical strength.
In our battles against the flesh, whether it is our flesh or someone else’s, we need strength. Not physical strength, per se, but strength of character. We need the kind of strength that comes with confidence in knowing what is right and what is wrong.
When we are tempted by the flesh’s desires, knowing right from wrong is not enough. We need to be firm in our resolve to do what is right, and we need to be steadfast in resisting temptation. The strength we need is moral strength. It is a measure, not of how much weight we can lift, but how much temptation we can resist.
God is able to make us strong, firm, and steadfast. He can make us be like a rock on a windswept beach. He offers us clarity of thought and a moral compass that is never wrong. Like a lighthouse in a storm, the one whom God makes strong stands firm in the faith, shining the light of the Gospel for all to see.
Application: Trust God to restore you to moral strength.
Food for Thought: Which is more valuable; physical strength or moral strength?
Moral strength. It is so much harder to break or bend a persons morals than a body part. Happy Monday
Tim,
You have an interesting way of putting it! 🙂 People sometimes threaten the body parts as a way of indirectly bending morals. It takes the power of God to strengthen our morals against such threats.
1 Corinthians 15:58 definitely refers to one’s moral strength.
Thank you, JEC!
Great verse!
First, I have to say I did not see today’s devotional going into “moral” strength. Nicely done. I believe it’s the most important of the two strengths, especially in today’s society of what is wrong has now become right (at least in society’s mind.)
I have been learning over the years that the only way to build moral strength is to power lift — the bible that is — and when I am too busy to incorporate the daily exercise of reading the word, my moral strength becomes weak.
I did not grow up in a Christian household and COVID has certainly tested things for me with being isolated. I used to purposely isolate because I didn’t think I had anything to contribute to people but as my relationship grew with Him, I found that I need fellowship and time in His word. When those things don’t happen, I become weak and my resistance is compromised.
While I believe moral strength is more important than physical strength, you can only develop either strength with exercise and repetition.
Thank you, Darla!
Nice to hear from you! I appreciate your take on this: exercise and repetition. Well said!
Excellent devotion and comments. Darla, I appreciate your perspective. Well said.
I will only add 1 Timothy 4: 7 – 9.
Nice verse, Rich!
Which is more valuable; physical strength or moral strength?
I like Darlas insight, both require time exercise and repetition.
Physical strength is of our flesh, which is in the process of decay and will one day fade to nothing. Moral strength comes from God, is spiritual maturity, can be freely given, passed onto others, will grow beyond our capacity to imagine, and has eternal value.
Ron,
Thank you for adding your take on this. Moral strength can be contagious. I hadn’t thought of that.
I didn’t think that either one had a price? Physical strength does cost a bunch if you belong to a club,…Moral strength,…that can cost a bunch too,…Just as Darla mentioned she gets her strength from reading,..that costs time and money for the book to read,..
For me,..I am going to place value on the armor I don on everyday,..I am going to place value on the cross I am honored to carry,..I am going to place value in the blood that was spilt for my filthy sin,..I am going to place value in the promise of eternity,..if that all falls under moral strength then I will take it because that’s what Christ did for me,..strengthen my cheap and worthless morals to something worth more than gold,..no amount of money can purchase what I have in Jesus,…that’s value,..
John,
You remind me of the verse that says,
“Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.” (Romans 14:4)
👍🏻