THROUGH CHRIST
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13
Paul was very familiar with the demands of living for Christ in difficult situations. As a missionary, he was often mistreated, severely beaten, criticized, and imprisoned. He was frequently without the faithful support of the Lord’s churches. However, he discovered a truth that sustained him in his times of disappointment and adversity: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
The Bible urges us to have the faith to believe that, through Christ, it can be done. The object of our faith and the source of our strength are not found in ourselves, but in Christ. It is “through Christ” that we reach our potential and accomplish things beyond our natural ability. It would be very boastful to think that we could “do all things” in our own power, strength, or wisdom. This is the practical application of the life of faith that is so often missing in the Christian walk. When we read our Bibles, we discover what God wants for us and from us. Then we see that, in ourselves, we are unable to fully accomplish God’s revealed will. By faith, we then trust Him to do for us and through us what we cannot do for ourselves. We depend on the Lord to work in us and through us, what we could never do alone. God wants to help us grow in His grace and become all that He saved us to become. We must believe in His desire and ability to work in us and through us to fulfill His plan and purpose.
The majority of Christ’s followers would have to admit that our success in many areas of the Christian life is somewhat less than we desire. However, God does not want us to give up on victorious Christian living as though it is impossible. He does not give us things to do that we are incapable of doing, that He might frustrate us. Rather, He wants us to realize how much we need Him, and He wants us to trust Him to fulfill His will in and through us. What is it that you know God would have you do that you know you cannot do without Him? If we know it is God’s will, we know we can depend on Him to help us to do it. By faith, we trust Him and rely on His grace to enable us. As we rely upon Him, we know He is pleased because it is faith in Him that pleases God. Also, as He helps us do what we cannot do in our strength, He receives the glory. There is nothing in His will that we cannot do “through Christ.”