“What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace”
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me, City Alight
“ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13, NKJV
One of the greatest dangers of the so-called ‘prosperity gospel’ is that it is not congruent with the full context of Scripture.
I have heard often from pulpits around the world that God wants you to be rich, He wants you to be healthy – He wants you to be successful and prosperous in all things. The result is a generation of Christians who feel condemned, lost and alone when the eggs of life aren’t sunny side up.
God does not want us to be successful and prosperous in all things – He wants us to know Him and delight in Him in all things.
This is a very important distinction.
In his letter to the Philippians Paul makes it clear that he has seen the good and the bad of life – “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
Tim Keller shared the following thought: “One of the main ways we move from abstract knowledge about God to a personal encounter with him as a living reality is through the furnace of affliction.”
It is in our weakness that we see and know the glory, strength and power of Christ.
The Christian life is hard. It is a race, it is a battle, it is marathon and a war waged. It is about endurance. It is about perseverance. It is about pressing on, leaning in and pushing through.
Christ did not come to remove the reality of trial and tribulation from our lives, but to show His strength in these situations – that we may know Him in all things, be content in all things and endure all things even unto death, holding fast to the hope, courage and peace we have in Him.
As Elisabeth Elliot said: “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”
Many of us have, or will, at some point make a vow to a spouse along these lines – a promise to have and to hold , for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death does part.
This is a beautiful snapshot of the the Christian life. God promises to have and to hold – for better, for worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health – to love and to cherish FOREVER.
The difference in the vow the Bride (Church) makes to the Bridegroom (Jesus), and vice versa, is the fact that DEATH has been removed from the equation.
We will still have the better and the worse, the sickness and health, the richer and poorer – but death can no longer do us part.
He will have and hold, love and cherish His Bride for all eternity.
Because of this I can face tomorrow, I can do all things, endure every trial and tribulation that might come my way, press on, lean in and push through – content in all things – knowing that my Maker is my Husband. Knowing that He has me in the palm of His mighty hand. Resting in the knowledge that no matter what, come what may, He will not let go.
He will have and hold, love and cherish His Bride for all eternity.
Prayer: Oh Lord, what a privilege to know that I am Yours. I belong to You. My life is in You. Thank You Jesus for Your love, Your mercy and Your grace. Be my strength in weakness, my joy and my courage. Be my righteousness, my freedom and my deep and boundless peace. My future is sure in You. Help me endure and persevere – my eyes set firmly upon You. Go with me in this day and hold me forever in Your mighty, careful and loving hand. In Jesus Name. Amen.