I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength…
Summary: Language is like a bridge made out of puzzle pieces. It only works if the pieces are put together correctly.
Believe it or not, there is a ton of stuff to talk about in this short passage. Let’s begin with the question, “The strength to do what?”
Why does Paul mention getting “strength” from the Lord, and what is it for? Oddly, he doesn’t say.
Then, there is the question, “What does Paul mean when he says the Lord has ‘given’ him strength?”
The nuance here is that it sounds like Paul has something he didn’t have before. The question is, what is it?
These questions are important because in English, it sounds like Paul has some special power (strength) given by God. Speaking from personal experience, many believers have wondered if we could have something like that, too.
The answer is that we can. The caveat is that the ‘strength’ Paul is talking about may not be what we think it is.
Matthew’s Gospel account tells the story of a time when Jesus’ disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee at night (Matthew 14:22-33). Just before dawn, the disciples are terrified to see someone walking on the water toward them. It turns out that it was Jesus doing the walking.
Peter is intrigued! He says, “Lord, if it’s you, … tell me to come to you on the water” (vs 28). Jesus’ response is simple — “‘Come,’ he said.”
The text says, “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” (vs 29)
Like Jesus, Peter suddenly had the “strength” to walk on water! Another word for this is “power.” For a moment, it looks like Peter can do the miraculous. And then something happens.
Peter turns his attention to the wind, and he becomes afraid. When that happens, he begins to sink. Suddenly, his “strength” is gone.
The strength Paul is talking about is not really his at all. Like Peter’s experience on the water, his “strength” came from Jesus. He couldn’t “see” the connection, but it was there.
The strength Paul is talking about belongs to Jesus. What Paul is pointing to is the power of God. It is a power that is only felt by those who submit fully to Jesus. Like a toaster that only works when plugged into the wall outlet, the strength Paul has only works when plugged into Jesus.
Application: Stay plugged into Jesus!
Food for Thought: What would happen if we could use the power of Jesus apart from Jesus’ will?
What would happen if we could use the power of Jesus apart from Jesus’ will?
We know that Jesus Will is to do the Will of the Father. So if we could use the power of Jesus apart from His Will it would be to use it for our own will.
John 6:38
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
If we could use the power of Jesus for our own will it would make us thieves and liars, stealing the power of God for our own gratification and claiming our will as God’s Will. I think this question hits pretty close to home. There is power in the name of Jesus (John 14:14). Inwardly God knows our motives (James 4:3), but outwardly, a person who misuses what God has given them, can lead others astray (Matthew 24:24).
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Suffice it to say, the consequences of following our own will is separation from God. We are able to know and follow God’s Will through Christ. If we claim Christ, but deny Him, we cannot know Him. Then we are workers of lawlessness.
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John 14:14
14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Matthew 24:24
24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Thank you, Chris!
I appreciate you jumping down the rabbit hole with me! 🙂
Thank you for devotion. I thought it was spot on and I really liked the analogies.
Thankfully, I don’t think I can use the power of Jesus if it is opposed to His will. And that is a great thing – as the ways I could mess things up are probably unlimited.
1 John 5: 14 – 15: This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Thank you, Rich!
Yes, there is a built-in safety mechanism! Hard to use God’s power apart from God!
What would happen if we could use the power of Jesus apart from Jesus’ will?
The Bible does warn us to be alert to the words and actions of false prophets who would practice their powers among us. When we become aware of their true nature, we are to flee from them as quickly as we can.
Matthew 24:24, For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
1 John 4:1, Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Salvation in Christ, healings of spiritual and physical ailments are available today as God chooses to use specific individuals, led by and in the power of, His Holy Spirit. Our Lord uses all believers to live in His will as we glorify Him in our lives.
James 5:14-15, Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
Thank you, Ron!
I appreciate you pointing us to false prophets. It reminds me of how the “wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians” could do everything Moses and Aaron did, until they couldn’t. Then God’s power overwhelmed them. (Exodus 7:11)