“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
As Christians, most if us have used the verse before as if it is some type of boy scout pledge, girl scout pledge, or a saying that has been passed on in our culture, from one generation to the other. It goes right along with other sayings that are intended to project our faith and confidence in God. You have heard them and probably said them: “I put it ALL in His hands,” and “Jesus will work it out,” meaning with no action necessary for us. These are just a couple. But listen! These cannot be words that just come out of our mouth resembling church-folk rhetoric; repeating what we have heard and relinquishing all responsibility. These sayings are not intended to inhibit us from doing anything, being motionless and making no personal effort as we depend on God to “do it for me.” What happened to that piece of rhetoric that said, “One step! All you have to do is take one step and He will do the rest?” Maybe we should pull that one out of the vault to help evade being active in accomplishing anything or all things. My opinion? We have to take the “I can do” part of the verse above and do what we can, even when weak, believing that the Lord will give us strength.
As a sophomore in high school, I was a starter on the junior varsity basketball team as a sophomore. During the course of a game I hurt my ankle, experienced a severe ankle sprain. These were the days where there were no high school practice centers, rehab rooms, or semi-medically skilled trainers who doctored you through the healing process. You had to work some injuries out by yourself and with your resources. Of course, I prayed! I was young, but I was taught to pray. I knew my resource in heaven! I was the only remaining adolescent in my Sunday School class for a while, so you know the teacher had my attention when he taught about prayer. So I prayed for a healing, a quick healing, hoping not to be regulated to the bench for the rest of the year. I did not stop with reaching to heaven, but I arranged the furniture in the living room of our shotgun-style house so that I could do my own rehab. This included laps around and around the room, intended to strengthen the muscles that were needed to make sharp turns and quick cuts to the basket and set up plays for others during ballgames. I put in the work. Yes, I did! But all the time I depended on the Lord! I did the best I could, gave it my all, did my part. I missed one game. I kept moving, motivated by the fact that the Lord would help me.
The next time you use the verse above or one similar to it, be sure you are doing your part. Think about how the Lord sent manna from heaven, but the Israelites had to go pick it up. Think about the lame man from birth who had to stand on his feet before walking. Think about the many souls that were saved after Jesus’ ascension back to His awesome throne in glory. That would not have happened if His disciples did not go ye therefore and make disciples.
Don’t make the verse above like some type or organizational pledge or often repeated oath. No, us it as motivation to give it your best, depending on the Lord to see you accomplish your goals. Yes! Have some goals! Be blessed!
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!” (2 Thessalonians 3:16 NASB)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King