Ephesians 6:10 – BE STRONG IN THE LORD
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
You know what it takes to be physically strong. You may spend hours in a gym every week or you may chose to participate in a particular type of exercise on a regular basis so that you become fit and strong. You cannot become physically strong overnight; it takes time and effort with a bit of determination.
Have you ever done a fitness review? Most likely you went to some gym and they started measuring and weighing you to let you know how physically fit that you are. In this passage, we are being asked what our level of spiritual fitness is. Are you strong in the Lord or are you strong in the power of your own might?
It is easy to say that you are strong in the Lord, but just because you say it with your mouth – it does not mean that you are able to live those words. Imagine an overweight man who claims that he is as strong as an ox. Just because he claims to be strong, does not mean that he is physically fit. If you were to ask the man to run a mile, or engage in some sort of physical exercise for a prolonged period of time, you would find out pretty quick that the man is not prepared physically to endure those activities.
What is the status of your spiritual health? Are you strong in the Lord and in the power of his might? If you were Peter sitting in a boat in the midst of the storm and you heard Jesus beckon to you; would you have been willing to walk on water to Jesus? If you were the centurion who had a servant who was sick; would you have asked Jesus to heal your servant from a distance? If you were the foreign woman who had a daughter who was sick and Jesus had just told you that he was only present to deal with the Jews; would you have been spiritually strong enough to confront Jesus and remind HIM that even the dogs receive crumbs?
Peter, the centurion, and the foreign woman did not do great things because of their own strength. These individuals were able to do great things because they relied upon the power of HIS might. Peter was able to walk on water as long as he was not looking at the storm and focusing upon Jesus. As soon as he started looking at the storm, he started to sink and he needed to cry out to Jesus to deliver him for the trouble that he found himself in.
Elijah was a man who by the power of God was able to bring fire down out of heaven. However, shortly after this powerful miracle, Elijah started throwing a pity-party for himself and started to focus upon how he was the only person who was faithful to God. God had to lead Elijah up into the mountains and required Elijah to do a 40 day fast so that he could be prepared to continue to serve God.
The more we are focused upon ourselves, the weaker we are spiritually. In order to be a believer with great strength, we need to put aside our own selfish desires and learn to put the Lord first in our lives.
You cannot be spiritually strong if you are relying upon your own strength. You need to learn to say no to the things of this world so that you can be strong in the Lord. Just as it takes time and energy to become physically strong, so likewise it take time and energy to lay aside your fleshly desires in order to gain a heart after God’s own heart. As you add temperance to your life, you will find the strength to put the things of God first in your life.