Be Strong

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

What does it mean to be strong? Christians give a somewhat different meaning to the phrase than others do. When we say, “be strong” we are not talking about physical endurance, physical strength, or intellect. Christianity seems to have its roots in weakness. Repentance is an admission of defeat, but then, in a way, so was crucifixion.

Peace with God comes only by surrender. Nevertheless, until you have surrendered, you will never know how much strength it takes to unconditionally cease hostilities. C.S. Lewis once said repentance is a kind of death. It takes a good deal of strength to willingly walk into the arms of Death. Soldiers willingly risk death for their country. But I do not know of one who did not hope to escape battle alive.

When you face God, there is no escaping with your life intact. The Holy Spirit will smack you in the face with your utter failure to live a good life. The bespoiled life we so proudly cling to is the very thing God would have us publicly abandon. He offers a new life, but to obtain it, we must be rid of the life we now possess and to confess its worthlessness to all who would hear.

None of us, on our own, possess the strength to do that. Without the Spirit of God drawing us, the desire to be as gods, to rule our own lives, and feed our own desires, would continue to rebel. Many hear the Spirit’s call, only the “weak” are strong enough to yield to Him and surrender.

Gideon once raised an army to drive away the Midianite invaders who oppressed Israel. It was an impressive show of strength. However, God didn’t approve. He said that Gideon had too many troops. If they succeeded in driving out the Midianites, people would think they did so with their own strength. So, God ordered Gideon to whittle down his force to only 300 soldiers. That way, when they were victorious, everyone would know that God gave them the victory.

Paul wrote very powerful messages to the church. His letters to the Corinthians are an example. However, by his own admission, when people saw him, they wondered how in the world could that weakling man write such letters. His answer? Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

When Christians are instructed to “be strong”, it is an exhortation to allow the Spirit full control of the situation. We are to go out and face life knowing that we don’t have the strength, courage, or wisdom the moment requires. What we do have is the irresistible power of God that works all things for our good living inside us.

“I hear the Savior say, ‘Thy strength indeed is small! Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all’.”

Maranatha