DAILY DEVOTIONAL
August 22 - 27
“God Promises Strength”
Monday, August 22 Psalm 73:24-28
“God is the strength of my heart”
The passage begins with the good news of God’s guiding presence in this life which will eventually lead us “into glory.” While we need to be careful not to assume that the psalmist has a full understanding of the resurrection, as we have come to know it through Christ and the New Testament, the statement clearly shows that the Old Testament people of God believed that the God they worshiped in this life would be present to them after death. For example, Job proclaimed that if he died, he would “. . . see God with my own eyes” (Job 19:27); and, King David in his well-known Psalm said: “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).
So, when we feel ourselves weakening physically as we move along in years, we can be confident that a strong God has a firm grip on our lives and there is nothing that can separate us from him. Though “my heart may fail” our assurance is that “God is the strength of my heart.” This promise is for our living and our dying. Paul put it this way: “While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord” (Romans 14:8).
When I am weak, Lord, you are my strength. Amen.
Tuesday, August 23 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
“He will keep you strong”
It was Paul’s habit to encourage and praise those with whom he worked and he did not make an exception in this letter. Even though he would go on in his letter to point out problems in the Corinthian church, he began it with praise to God for what God had done in their lives. These brief words about what God had called them to become would be a great source of encouragement as they dealt with the very heavy burden of their shortcomings.
In verses 8 and 9 Paul emphasizes the hope they have in Christ, despite their many failings. It may seem strange to find a reference to the second coming of Christ right here in his opening words of greeting, but what Paul is trying to do is to set the problems which they now face in the context of eternity. He wants them to be “blameless” when Christ returns, something that seems rather far-fetched given their many sins. However, the basis for “blamelessness” is not their good works but the fact that God is faithful and will keep them strong (that is, will keep them close to himself through forgiveness of sin) until the end.
You promise to keep me strong in you, Lord, in spite of my short-comings. Amen.
Wednesday, August 24 2 Corinthians 4:7-15
“This all-surpassing power is from God”
In these nine verses Paul gives several reasons why in the midst of great difficulty he never loses heart. First, Paul knew that the real treasure was Christ and that he, Paul, was merely the vessel that carried it. What a beautiful description of the Christian life: “We have this treasure in earthen vessels.”
Second, Paul was encouraged because life had not thrown more at him than he could handle. When we read verses 7-10 we are likely to catch only the bad things that had happened to him and to notice the words “hard pressed,” “perplexed,” “persecuted,” and “struck down.” But we need to go back and pick up the other end of the sentence where he talks of being “not crushed . . . not in despair . . . not forsaken . . . not destroyed.” The power of God living in him had given him strength, even in the face of great hardship. As God’s people we are a lot tougher than we sometimes think, and it’s encouraging for us to realize that we can cope with a great deal through the strength that Christ gives.
With the strength you give me, Lord, I can stand tall in times of hardship. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
August 22 - 27
“God Promises Strength”
Thursday, August 25 Ephesians 3:14-21
“I pray he will give you strength through his Holy Spirit in your inner being”
The main intent of Paul’s prayer is this: He wants his readers strengthened by God’s Spirit so that they may know intimately Christ’s presence and love. The words “power” and “Holy Spirit” are so commonly associated in the Bible that they are virtually synonymous. The Spirit is the power of God at work in people. Paul prays for his readers that the Spirit will be so strong an influence at the controlling center of their being that their lives will reflect Christ in the way they live.
Paul goes on to tell us in verse 17 that Christ lives in us through the work of the Spirit. Paul has earlier stated that the church is the “dwelling place of God through his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:20-22). This wonderful description of the church is now paralleled by an equally wonderful description of the individual believer who has experienced salvation and transformation. By the Spirit’s work Christ takes up residence in the person. Paul is praying that Christ will permeate our whole being so that we will continually be filled with the Spirit (see Ephesians 5:18).
Your Spirit living in me, Lord, makes me strong for you. Amen.
Friday, August 26 2Thessalonians 3:1-5
“The Lord will make you strong and guard you from the evil one”
Paul begins this passage asking the Thessalonian Christians to pray for him as he shares the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout his ministry journeys, especially as he faces those who are opposed to the message (verses 1and 2). Then, acknowledging that they are also under attack, he gives them strong, affirming encouragement (verses 3, 4 and 5) by contrasting the faithfulness of God over against the unfaithfulness of evil people. God in his faithfulness is both the source of our strength and the One who guards and protects us against the evil one.
Paul’s view of evil is expressed in Ephesians 6:12 – “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts and wickedness in the heavenly places.” Martin Luther is quoted as saying, “If you don’t believe in the devil, it’s because you’ve never resisted him.” If we are not to some degree aware of our need for God’s strength and protection against evil, it may well be that we have capitulated to the enemy.
Although the evil one opposes me, Lord, you strengthen and protect me. Amen.
Saturday, August 27 1 Peter 5:6-11
“Be strong in your faith”
As Peter comes to the close of his first letter, he shares some important counsel regarding how we may be strong in our faith. He tells us: “Be careful!” The meaning of the Greek is to be watchful, awake or vigilant. It can also be translated “self-controlled,” that is, not under the control of outside agents. In order to be aware of the world around us and the danger it can pose to our faith, we need to be sure that there is nothing controlling us other than the Spirit of God. The evil one would like nothing better than to be the one calling the shots in our life.
Paul goes on to point out that our only defense against the evil one is through the power of Christ. And, as we resist evil, we should know that we are not the only ones who face the sufferings that come from the attacks of the devil. We should remember our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world who are suffering for the sake of Christ. Peter reminds us that suffering for doing good is not wasted when we entrust ourselves to Christ Jesus. It is God who has called us to his eternal glory. His power will prevail!
By faith I submit myself to your control, Lord, that I may be strong in you. Amen.