Skip to main content

Daily Devotion: Philippians 4:13

By

Philippians 4:13     "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."


As I look at this verse, I see three distinctive parts:

"I can do all things"
"Through Christ"
"Which strengtheneth me"

This verse is very familiar to God's people and it's a favorite for many. It speaks encouragement to our hearts; yet as I see it there is a definite assignment to these words. If my English grammar lessons serve me correctly, I can also speak this verse in this manner: "I can do all things which strengtheneth me through Christ." You see this verse does not give us an unlimited license to do as we please as long as we say it is through Jesus. Rather, those things which strengthen our Christian walk can be done, as we are led by the Spirit of God and strengthened through the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This verse is written in a particular context.

I'm going to go back a few verses and hope we take time to read them in context with today's passage. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever THINGS are true, whatsoever THINGS are honest, whatsoever THINGS are just, whatsoever THINGS are pure, whatsoever THINGS are lovely, whatsoever THINGS are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these THINGS.  (9)  Those THINGS, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.  (10)  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.  (11)  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  (12)  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in ALL THINGS I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." (Philippians 4:8-12)

If I count correctly, the word, things, are mentioned 9 times before verse 13 which makes the tenth time. I put them in capital letters in order to stress the fact that  there are several "THINGS" mentioned in these verses such as honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtue, being in want and being content, being humbled and being exalted, being hungry and being full. Then the Apostle Paul concludes it by saying, "I can do ALL THINGS through Christ which strengtheneth me." Again I say it is very important to keep Scripture in the context where it is written. I understand there are many actions that come as a result of those things and it is very important that we understand that it is Jesus Who gives us the strength to do them. Our Heavenly Father provides all our needs in order to do those things. All glory for our Christian walk goes to our Father in Heaven, His blessed Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for giving us the strength to be able to walk with you.

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Devotion: Psalm 88:1-4

By
Psalm 88:1-4  A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. "O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:  (2)  Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;  (3)  For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.  (4)  I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength" I've said this before and I will say it again (and probably more times before we get to the end of the Psalms) - I love the Psalms because I can surely identify with them. Most Psalms start in a low place and as the writer expresses his thoughts, the Lord begins to lift him up out of that dry place.  Though this entire Psalm is a fervent cry unto the Lord, the Psalmist tells us specifically in three verses that he cried daily unto the Lord. Just a few Psalms ago, we were reminded that God always hears our prayers. ...
Read more

Daily Devotion (Video): I Will Fear No Evil - Psalm 23:4

By
Read more

Daily Devotion: Knowing God By Bearing Fruit

By
Some will notice the title is not “Bearing fruit because we know God,” so to avoid getting sidetracked with that, we can start with the fact that we won’t bear any godly fruit unless our heart has been changed and the Holy Spirit dwells within us. Also, to avoid confusion, I’ll be using the terms “bearing fruit,” “good works” and “service” interchangeably.  I took this article’s title from Part 7, of John Piper’s “Look at the Book” session on Colossians 1:9-12. I greatly encourage you to view that short video to get his excellent exposition on this subject.  When I saw the title of the video earlier this year, I got kind of excited because that’s the direction my thinking has gone in the past several years. My thinking was founded Biblically with verses on good works like Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father, who is in heaven.” But I couldn’t expand it to expla...
Read more