“I can do all things through He who is strengthening me.”
I will explain the translation, or interpretation, of this text later in the article. This is a verse that we quote frequently, and for good reason. Serving as the chaplain of the Westwood football team, we quoted this verse at almost every practice and before all games. What I want to do is to break this verse down and see what it says to “me.” (Meaning me and everyone else.) “I” – “I” is one of our most favorite words. We use it rather frequently, and think it even more often. It is “I” that God is dealing with. You are uniquely you, and Jesus loves you as uniquely you, and He wants to use you as uniquely you. He will grow you into a better you, but He will take you where you are and lead you to where He wants you to be. “Can”- The next word in our translation is another important word in our vocabulary. We need to learn to say “I can.” I remember that little story about the little train engine that my elementary teachers told us about. It was about a little train that could not climb the hill because he didn’t think he could. When he learned to say “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” that he actually made it up the hill. We need to learn the word “can” in the place of “can’t.” “Do” – This is another important word in our vocabulary. When we “do” things, as a general rule we are headed in the right direction. Of course that depends on what we are doing, but in the context of this verse it is talking about uplifting, loving, ministering things. We need to be careful about what we do, which is the purpose of this text. So let’s move on. “All things” – It is at this point that we must consider what we are going to do. We probably will not do this perfectly, but we need to make sure that the “all things” that we do are in line with what Christ would have us do, and would move us beyond “I” to “them” or “us.” “Through He” or “through the one” The “One” or “He” who Paul is writing about here is Christ. If Christ is the One who helps us do “all things” we can be sure that we are on the right track. We are made out of human flesh, so we will slip at times, but that is when we pick up and go again, because the “One” that we are trusting will enable us to do better. “Who Is Strengthening me.” The Greek text actually reads like this: "I can do all things through the one, or the person, who is strengthening me." Paul does not specifically use the name “Jesus” or “Christ” but we know from the context that it is Christ about whom he is writing. In other words, I can’t “ do all things” that I want to do on my own strength, but “I can do all things through Christ who is strengthening me to do His will.” Jesus is in the process of strengthening us day by day.. This verse is easy to memorize, so memorize it and pray it every day! Take it into your heart. Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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September 2021
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