MORNING MANNA 7-24-21
OUR SOURCE OF STRENGTH
““I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”- Phil. 4:13
From the cradle to the grave we all need help – divine help, constant help. Even the greatest men who ever lived had great problems. One of the best examples I can think of is Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) who is known as “the prince of preachers”. He wrote about “Fits of depression” in his book “Lectures to my Students”. He said, “I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to”.
Another example is John Henry Jowett ( 1863-1923), who many called “The greatest preacher in the English speaking world” said, “You seem to imagine that I have no ups and no downs, but just a level and lofty stretch of spiritual attainment with unbroken joy and equanimity – but by no means is this is the case! I am so often perfectly wretched, and everything appears most murky much of the time”.
The list could go on and on. But among mere mortals there isn’t anyone who doesn’t need help. One of the best lessons we can learn in life is that we are weaker than we think. None of us, on our own, are strong enough to deal with our difficulties. Without God’s help we will be weakened by our worries, troubled by our trials, stressed by suffering, buried under our burdens, pressured by problems, and drawn into depression. All of the things we need most can be provided only by the Lord.
Even the great apostle Paul tells us that he was in constant need of help. Not only did he struggle with his foes, but also with his flesh. And when he came to the end of his life he described his Christian life as a fight (2 Tim. 4:7), not a walk in the park. And indeed it is, for us as well as Paul. Thankfully we are assured of God’s help. As Paul speaks of his great struggles he also tells us where our help is found. Rather than being defeated he says, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”– Rom. 8:37. He survived his struggles and succeeded in his service because of what he tells us in Phil. 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”. If he could, you can. There really is victory in Jesus! – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
