All I Need Is Christ

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

D.L. MOODY
Take Christ for your strength, dear soul. He’ll give you power. Power to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil; power to crucify every besetting sin, passion, lust; power to shout in triumph over every trouble and temptation of your life, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

ERWIN LUTZER
Christ’s strength is sufficient; we can move forward in the worst of circumstances; Paul lived a life deprived of the comforts he was used to, but he was content. As Christ strengthens us, we can endure a ruptured relationship; we can live through disappointment with an inner sense of peace. The presence of God through the Holy Spirit dwells within us by our faith in Jesus Christ.
Today’s verse does not mean we can do anything we want; it means we have the strength to do what God calls us to do. God works in and through our disappointments, our fears, and our weaknesses. Think of the dilemma Moses was in, yet God’s promise was one of victory. “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm” (Exodus 6:6).
We can overcome the obstacles in our path through Christ. To repeat: We can do only that which God has called us to do. Nothing more; nothing less.

PRAYER
Father, give me strength to do your will, to walk in obedience in the power of Christ.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
This verse has been misused to make God out to be a Genie. Read Philippians 4:11-12, what does Paul mean by all things?

Looking above, read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Why can you be content in God alone?