All Things!

Tom Barnard

 

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:13

 

Two words make all the difference in the meaning of the verse above. Those words are “through Christ.” Place a period after “things” and you are left with one very arrogant claim—“I can do all things.” No one is that good. Except Jesus. He turns our failures into victories. He takes our sins and forgives them. He takes our self-centeredness and cleanses it. He takes our simple efforts and blesses them. He takes our words and uses them for his glory. The fact is, without Him we can do nothing. But with Him, we can do anything. Actually, all things!

 

I like the Amplified New Testament’s treatment of this great text:

 

“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me—I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me [that is, I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].”

 

Conclusions:

·         Christ Himself is the source of my strength.

·         He has made me stronger than I could ever be on my own.

·         There is no challenge too great for me and Jesus to address together .

·         I am ready to begin now.

 

Heavenly Father, we both know that one of my bad habits is trying to take over situations in my life and resolve them myself, rather than relying on your strength. And we both know that when I do this, the results are not great—in fact, they are often ugly. Forgive me for failing to turn to you when I have choices to make. I need your wisdom and presence each day of my life—not just when things aren’t going so well. I want to make Paul’s testimony, my testimony. I have learned through experience that I can’t accomplish anything good by myself. But with you I can do all things. I turn to you now in faith. Amen