Northside Baptist Church

Have you ever notices Philippians 4:13 DOES NOT say “I can do  all things through Christ WHO strengtheneth me”?  It uses  the preposition “which” to claim our access to  His ability (doing all things) and His subsequent strength.

Think for a moment exactly what this means.  He is not teaching us we receive strength to do everything.   It is telling us we can do anything through Christ and this FACT is “that  which” strengthens us.

We ought to find “solace for strength” in this fact:  we can do anything through Christ!  Do we believe that is true?  Do we believe we can accomplish the impossible?  NO!  We cannot get ‘er done, but He can!  He  can accomplish whatever He chooses to do and He will accomplish that through us. . . if we will let Him!  How  does that make you feel?

It should bring each of us a great measure of strength.  But often the  faith of Christ (the seventh of nine fruits living within us) is rejected for self righteous doubt.  We believe we can do a lot of things for God!  We even can do some things for ourselves (or our families, friends or preachers) but how much does He do through you?  If it is not  EVERYTHING He wishes then it is our “bouts with doubts” that is hindering His ability.

As long as things are going well, I have found that I truly believe that Christ is all I need to  complete my life’s tasks properly.  But when things start getting rough, my doubts attempt to overwhelm me and cause  me to get rough when things get tough.  It is at times like this I tend to get creative, for I have rejected the truth  “Christ is enough”.

In my self effort to creatively do for Him what He has designed Himself to do for me, I fail  and become frustrated.  My interpersonal skills go down and I reject His promptings of joy for frustration.  I  become harsh rather than gentle.  Instead of longsuffering, I am a bit  quick tempered.  What has happened to me?  Why am I responding so rough toward  the things I find to be tough?  It’s cause for me, at that particular time “Christ is NOT enough”.  I sometimes  unfortunately conclude “I need more of me.  I must try harder or even  work longer.  If I buckle down and iimplement more self imposed rules  then decide to read more and pray more. I will become a better Steve!

Christ does not want a better Steve.  He wants a deader Steve!   Unless I die to my own self efforts when things get tough, He will not step in and change my outlook.  He  promises in Proverbs that if I will “Commit [my]works to the Lord, thy thoughts shall be established”.

If I would give the tough stuff over to the Lord he will establish my thoughts and His established thoughts will not respond rough over that which is, to me, tough!   Established thoughts will rest in the beauty of God’s presence and power and be assured that He will be enough.

Are you like me?  Do you need to be reminded that Christ is enough?  Then you are no different than many Christians.  Paul indicated he knew how to have all his needs met and he know how to go without any needs  being met.  However, through it all he was content because he had LEARNED contentment does not come through resentment.  It  comes through being willing to give things over to Jesus and be content with our role of proper thinking and His  role of productive doing.

When things get tough, I want to avoid being rough, by recognizing “He is enough”!  With that  realization as my meditation it should be something “which strengtheneth me”..