and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
—Jeremiah 31:11
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
—1 Corinthians 1:25
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
—2 Corinthians 12:10
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
—1 Peter 4:10-11
Despite the lies of Satan, flesh and blood are not the true source of strength.
When the Lord provided strength to judges and other leaders to defend ancient Israel against attack, it was not to give them glory. It was keeping His covenant to protect His people; they, in turn, were to keep their covenant to honor Him and to be His witnesses before all nations to His glory. And the wise among them knew that it was His strength that saved them, not their own.
Those who think that they are strong do not seek refuge until it is too late. Those who think that they are self-sufficient do not accept their need for ransom and redemption. Jesus reminded the Pharisees that they remained in their guilt because they refused to acknowledge their blindness. But those, like Paul, who saw the truth about themselves, knew their need for redemption and rescue and grace.
Gideon may have been the instrument through whom God rescued Israel from the Midianites, but the tiny size and astonishing equipment of Gideon's final tiny group made it clear that Israel could not boast about the victory. It was by the Lord's hand and the Lord's strength.
Likewise, Paul looked back on his earlier growing prestige and power as a persecutor of the church and declared that all those former accomplishments were worse than worthless. He learned that the grace and strength of the Lord were all he needed and more than he could have attained.
And Peter brings us back to where we started. Whatever the gift—including service in the strength of the Lord—the Father gives it so that it may be used to serve the body and to give Him the glory.
True Strength
Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.
—Psalm 21:13
The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
—Psalm 28:8
For the Lord has ransomed Jacob
and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
—Jeremiah 31:11
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
—1 Corinthians 1:25
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
—2 Corinthians 12:10
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
—1 Peter 4:10-11
Despite the lies of Satan, flesh and blood are not the true source of strength.
When the Lord provided strength to judges and other leaders to defend ancient Israel against attack, it was not to give them glory. It was keeping His covenant to protect His people; they, in turn, were to keep their covenant to honor Him and to be His witnesses before all nations to His glory. And the wise among them knew that it was His strength that saved them, not their own.
Those who think that they are strong do not seek refuge until it is too late. Those who think that they are self-sufficient do not accept their need for ransom and redemption. Jesus reminded the Pharisees that they remained in their guilt because they refused to acknowledge their blindness. But those, like Paul, who saw the truth about themselves, knew their need for redemption and rescue and grace.
Gideon may have been the instrument through whom God rescued Israel from the Midianites, but the tiny size and astonishing equipment of Gideon's final tiny group made it clear that Israel could not boast about the victory. It was by the Lord's hand and the Lord's strength.
Likewise, Paul looked back on his earlier growing prestige and power as a persecutor of the church and declared that all those former accomplishments were worse than worthless. He learned that the grace and strength of the Lord were all he needed and more than he could have attained.
And Peter brings us back to where we started. Whatever the gift—including service in the strength of the Lord—the Father gives it so that it may be used to serve the body and to give Him the glory.
His strength, not ours. His glory, not ours.