"To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully
works in me." - Colossians 1:29
For years I "labored" and "struggled" with my work for the Lord. But, just like Paul, I finally learned that it is only through His energy, which so powerfully works in me, that I can do all things (Philippians 4:13). On that day, I stopped relying on my own strength and abilities, and started learning to follow the leading of Christ’s Spirit minute by minute throughout the day.
The lovely thing about the word Paul uses in this verse for "energy" is that it refers to the power, which is as potent as dynamite. "That power is like the working (energy) of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at the right hand in the Heavenly realms now (Ephesians 1:19)." Through His death, He made us members of His body, which gave us His fullness. His power fills everything in every way and it actively works in all Believers (Ephesians 1:23).
For years I "labored" and "struggled" with my work for the Lord. But, just like Paul, I finally learned that it is only through His energy, which so powerfully works in me, that I can do all things (Philippians 4:13). On that day, I stopped relying on my own strength and abilities, and started learning to follow the leading of Christ’s Spirit minute by minute throughout the day.
The lovely thing about the word Paul uses in this verse for "energy" is that it refers to the power, which is as potent as dynamite. "That power is like the working (energy) of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at the right hand in the Heavenly realms now (Ephesians 1:19)." Through His death, He made us members of His body, which gave us His fullness. His power fills everything in every way and it actively works in all Believers (Ephesians 1:23).
This exact same
power that raised Christ from the dead is working in us all right now
(Ephesians 1:20). The tragedy is that we seldom use this extraordinary gift. We
wander aimlessly in life, pushed about by various circumstances, and guided by
human philosophy rather than the Word of God. We tire easily and we get
discouraged, depressed and bitter. We exist with a carnal perspective on life
and we rarely achieve any gift of eternal value to offer back to God. How can
we remedy this situation?
As we utilize
His power within us, He gives us clear direction, and He helps us to focus on
His will and to accomplish all that He planned for us. At times, God actually
puts to flight every enemy that comes against us. For the most part, however,
God uses this power to strengthen us, to help us to continue trusting Him in
our daily walk and to support us as we accomplish His will for our lives.
God's path for our lives varies from day to day and is difficult at times,
unless we rely on Him to always provides us with both the will and the power to
accomplish all that He calls on us to do (Philippians 2:13). Remember that His
yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). We find great fulfillment
in life only as we fall more intimately in love with Jesus and keep Him as the
center of our focus.
Prayer:
Lord
Jesus, I pray
that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened in order that we may know the
hope to which You have called us, and the riches of our glorious inheritance as
saints, as well as Your incomparably great power in us who believe (Ephesians 1:18-19). We thank you for equiping us
with all that we need to accomplish Your will in and through our lives. May You
produce in us, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is
pleasing to You, and may we give You all the glory and honor forever and ever.
Amen. - Hebrew 13:21
Thought for the Day:
For
from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. - Romans 11:36