Daily Encouragementنموونە

The One who gives this strength is very strong. Glance over this chapter. He has the Creator’s strength: “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: who created all these?” (verse 26). He has the Sovereign Lord’s strength: “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth” (verse 22). “He has the good Shepherd’s strength: “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms” (verse 11). He has the strength of infinite wisdom: “who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counsellor?” (verse 13). He has the strength of the Almighty God: “Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God” (verse 28).

His strength is made perfect in weakness. His gospel is for the powerless: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6). Those who preach “with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power” tremble in themselves (1 Cor. 2:3-4). The apostle who is familiar with “the third heaven” experiences the fullness of this strength while still enduring “a thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

The weak are strong in him. Theirs is an inward, daily renewal and it produces testimony like this: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (2 Cor. 4:16; Phil. 4:13).