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“I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

OK, I have to admit; I have struggled with this text and at times still struggle with it. I’m not comfortable IF this text focuses me on the “I can do everything” part more than on the “through Christ who strengthens me” part. If Paul could “do everything” then why doesn’t he escape from prison and go see his friends in Philippi like he keeps saying he wants to do in this letter!?

I don’t think I am doing myself a favor in trying to build up self-worth by telling myself that I can “be WHATEVER I want to be.” I don’t think I can! I can probably be more than I give myself credit for and I believe it can be healthy if I challenge myself and others to “be all that we can be,” as long as it’s not about what I can be above what God has called me to be. Right before this verse Paul talks about “being content” in every situation and in every circumstance. Remember, he is in prison when he writes this! He wants to be with his friends in Philippi but he can’t right now. But in spite of that, he is “content,” which is a quality he says he had to learn, in “any and every situation.”

There appears to be a fine line that I must walk between “becoming all that I can be,” and acknowledging the challenge of not getting distracted with some ideology that tempts me to believe that I can “be anything I set my mind to.” I still like to ref hockey, but I cannot ever play in the NHL! No matter how hard I might work on my skating and stick handling skills, they will never take me! I’m ok with that, because if they did then I would have to quit my job and I couldn’t be your chaplain, which I would rather be!!

I don’t think Philippians 4:19 is saying to me that I can “do everything.” It’s saying to me that anything I am called to do BY JESUS He will give me the strength to accomplish—FOR HIM. I have to go back to my spiritual journey which is exactly that- a spiritual journey, not a genie in a bottle or a blank check for anything I want I life as a “reward” for following Jesus. It’s a blank spiritual check guaranteeing me that as I continue on my journey WITH AND FOR JESUS that I have everything available to me to guarantee my success in following and serving HIM (not me!)

Like Paul, I am learning to be content (for him it was currently prison- for me it’s other things) knowing that my faithfulness in focusing on Him will guarantee that I can even do prison with Him, if necessary for HIS kingdom, because He will give me strength. I can do “everything” He asks, “through Him” because He will “give me strength.”

Have a great day focusing on His strength for His purpose and His plan for your life,

Pastor Rich

Quote for the day: “A mistake that makes you humble is much better than an achievement that makes you arrogant.”