The Strength God Supplies

“…whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11

I wrestled with this. I can do nothing apart from you Lord—doesn’t that mean all I do is with strength you supply? In one sense all activity is sustained by the continuous power of Christ: from prayer to powerlifting, Bible study to bathroom scrubbing, work to home and back again.

So why the distinction?
 
Audible answers to life’s riddles aren’t the only or main way truth is revealed. God’s Word is the key to unlocking knowledge and understanding. Wisdom calls in the streets—her pitch inaudible to untrained hears. So give us truth! Eyes to see. Ears to hear. Hearts to love.  
 
Because false strength can empower life. Counterfeit courage. Spurious spirituality. Make-believe beliefs.
 
So how can we know we’re in step with the Spirit and not just given to passion or sparkly ideas that aren’t validated by the Word of God?
 
Here’s eight observations about the supernatural strength God supplies.  

1. It’s limited. All power in heaven and on earth belongs to Jesus Christ and he gives us a measured portion. A portion. He alone possesses all power, knowledge, compassion and insight. We get bits. And we rarely use the bits well! We need sleep and food and shelter and help…the risen Christ needs none of these things. The strength God supplies to his children is wonderful and measured. Why? So, God gets the glory.                                                                                                                                           
2. It’s free from idolatry and cures idolatry. Serving with counterfeit strength will always have compromised motivation and self as the beneficiary. People can perform functionally good acts (like raising a family, building a strong business, or performing seemingly selfless acts of service) that lack eternal value because Christ isn’t the goal. If my objective as a foster mom isn’t to love God by serving children with strength he’s granted me—but to earn social regard or personal significance, I’ve failed. The strength God supplies is curative of idolatry precisely because of the first reason—it’s limited. Which leads me to my third observation…                                                                    
3. It’s something we wait for.  The prophet Isaiah reminds us that only those who wait for the Lord will have their strength renewed. Our resources run out. We have good days and bad days. Sometimes we crush it—other times we’re crushed. It is not our imagination, ability, financial portfolio or brilliant insight that saves the day. Every good and perfect gift is from above. The world already has a savior. Christ is enough. Wait for him.  Daniel waited on God for the interpretation to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream despite needing an answer urgently. Jesus commanded the early church to wait for what the Father had promised (Acts 1:4) and even now the church is to wait eagerly for Jesus to return (Acts 1:11) (1 Corinthians 4:5).                                                     
4. It doesn’t bully others or demand a changed circumstance. The opposite of waiting for God to grant strength might be to use force (strong fists or words, credit cards when the budget is bust, entertainment or mind-altering substances when life is dull or painful) in order to force change.  To force an outcome with a counterfeit power might temporarily alleviate our impatience and give us a sense of control but anything that exalts self above God isn’t helpful and (apart from God’s mercy) is downright dangerous. So much pain could be avoided if we simply waited on the Lord. Both Joseph and Paul spent a great deal of time in prison (ironically for acts of honesty and righteousness) and their low estate became a place of great ministry.                                                               
5. It’s humble. A unique quality of divinely-given power, is that it moves in humility. It doesn’t need to be seen or to be right. It can withstand criticism. It loves its haters and points its lovers to the Great Lover. It knows the strength that came from God will return to God and considers itself privileged to be a minor mite in a holy transaction.                                                                                                        
6. It’s authoritative. It doesn’t need any platform the world worships to accomplish its goal of glorifying God through Jesus Christ forever and ever (1 Peter 4:11). It needn’t be beautiful or wealthy, famous or healthy. Throughout the Bible there are examples of children, animals, prostitutes, widows, uneducated men, wicked kings, celestial creations, angels and even demons who point to the authority and the glory of Jesus Christ. Supernatural power, indeed!                                   
7. It exists to serve others. The strength God supplies often comes at great personal cost to the individual doing the serving. Typically, there aren’t many short-term benefits (though eternal rewards are abundant!) God gives his people a measure of strength to serve others. We get the privilege of joining a heavenly mission and God’s love, shown through our actions is showcased.           
8. It’s supernaturally empowered.  The signature of God on a life makes miracles happen! Though believers’ gifts of strength are limited, measured and require patience—there is something unstoppable, unexplainable and enduring about the power of God in a believer’s life. Joni Eareckson Tada changed the world from her wheelchair. Preachers who despite great opposition and discouragement faithfully teach the truth in love. Foster parents open their homes and hearts to kids in distress and on and on.  Any person, anywhere who puts people above profit and uses their resources to highlight the wonder of God and not self, shows they're fueled by heavenly fire.

 
The message is clear, while believers are empowered by the Spirit of God to do great things in love, the privilege of what we’ll accomplish, how we’ll do it and even how long we’ll be used in a certain capacity belongs to God alone. He certainly doesn’t need us—but oh how we need him!

​His condescension—willingly lowering himself, is so good and so true. Our response can only be to love in return offering our lives as living sacrifices. We are limited, dependent, insecure, prone to arrogance and cowardice and still Christ joyfully transforms our broken pieces by his broken body into shalom or wholeness. 
 
Serve with the strength God supplies so in all things God will be glorified through Christ, always.
 
Finish Well,
Dionne  

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