Spiritually Strong

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

It’s Friday. As we head off into our weekend, I want you to be encouraged by these words: You are empowered by almighty God to be a steadfast Christ follower. I believe those words with all my heart, yet an alarming number of Christ followers seem to lack stability. Some are “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming" [see Ephesians 4:14]. Others succumb to moral impurity. Many are driven by emotionalism rather than sound thinking. Even though we claim to have a sovereign, omnipotent heavenly Father, our conduct often belies our doctrine. That’s why we desperately need to hear the words of Paul to the Colossian Christ followers when he told them that spiritual stability is ours when we allow the “knowledge of His will” to control our lives [see Colossians 1:9].

He went on in verse 11 to describe the power of God that enables us to walk in steadfastness and patience. We are “strengthened with [God’s] power according to His glorious might.” I love the words “according to,” because it means our steadfastness and patience is in God’s abundant supply of power, which is inexhaustible! The literal Greek says you are being "empowered with all power according to the might of His glory." 

When Christ followers walk in the light of that, we are stable. We respond to life in ways that are biblical—thoughtful and calculated; not worldly—emotional and uncontrolled. In other words, you bear up under the pressures and trials that come your way. You rejoice in your God because He is working out His good will in your life. You trust Him every step of the way. 

Paul told the Ephesian Christ followers to be “strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” [Ephesians 6:10]. That is possible as we trust in our God and rely on His infinite supply of power; all of which are yours in Christ! 

Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience. Colossians 1:11