As I read this morning in 1 Corinthians, I am reminded that my circumstances change and in each of those my strength is revealed.

“¹⁰We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in high honor, but we in dispute.” – 1 Corinthians 4:10 (ESV)

There is a lot going on in this one verse. There is the who is we and you, then the opposites are added. Let’s start with the who as we is Paul and the apostles, and the you is the people of Corinth, or is it we as in the outspoken Christians and you the new in Christ. The thing is that it is all of us depending on our circumstances. There are times when we are considered fools or crazy for what we do for Christ and then there are times when we are wise in our approach as we are the example of Christ. We may be weak in one instance and strong in another. Our stance and our Christianity is viewed differently by people as they view the instance we are in. I know that I have felt weak in certain times and have been praised by those that have seen me as they witness the strength I displayed in that instance.

You see, it is all about perspective and I feel as though God allows us to be in those instances to demonstrate and grow in our followership of Him. When we find ourselves in circumstances, where are we turning and where are we looking for help. Finding out that God is where the comfort is will make all things bearable. We may not find that comfort right away, but we will certainly find it as we look back. Our perspective of the circumstance is only one view and when we start to look at things from another perspective we begin to see that which we may have been missing before.

It is my duty to take the Christlike approach and see things from His perspective and know that my circumstances are viewed from many different angles and I should work to understand the impact my approach makes on others.

How do you see yourself in different scenarios? Are you looking at things only from your view? What if you were able to just be strong and work to see things from more angles and see how things are seen by others?

I have studied this morning’s passage a few times and each time the passage was about others. This morning I fell as though I was brought here as a reminder for me.

“¹We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” – Romans 15:1 (ESV)

And there it is, be strong and aid the weak. I cannot think of a better use of my time and efforts. I am to be the strength that aids those that cannot or have difficulty with helping themselves. I am the strength that they are looking for. I am here for them and not for myself.

Jesus said:

“¹¹The greatest among you shall be your servant.” – Matthew 23:11 (ESV)

So what are we to do with the strength provided by Christ, but to serve others. We are not to be strong for our own selfish gain, but for those that are in need of strength. God has given us the ability to assist others and with that ability has given us the strength to do so. It is my obligation to be strong for others in their time of need.

What are you using your strength for? Are you giving back to others by way of providing the strength they need? What if you were to pour your strength into others than yourself?

Thinking of children as they grow up, they get stronger, both in body and in mind and in spirit. We all start lowly and in need of growth and learning. Even Jesus, as he was fully man, grew in body, mind, and spirit just the same.

“⁴⁰And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And favor of God was upon him.” – Luke 2:40 (ESV)

I see this verse and realize just that, Jesus was a boy like I was and grew into a man just as I did. The difference in Jesus and me is that Jesus was God as man and there was a great bit of knowledge he already had that I needed to grow into.

Even as Jesus had knowledge already, it is still stated that He “grew and became strong”. Jesus was in the world as man, like me. He was here and grew as I did. He was a boy who found His way as I did as a child. He had opportunities as I did to learn and grow. He continued to find His way as a child and as God.

“⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teacher, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.” – Luke 2:46-47 (ESV)

Jesus, even God as man, was in the temple growing and learning from the teachers. Notice that the verses do not say he was teaching, but that He was listening and asking questions. Jesus was growing and learning. He continued to grow strong even as God as man.

Growth and learning should be a part of all of our lives. Even as Jesus was learning from those around Him, so should we. Whereas Jesus learned so much at such a young age, and I did/do not, I should still continue to grow strong throughout my life as Jesus did throughout His.

I know Jesus became the teacher, but He was still learning even as He prayed on the Mount of Olives just prior to His crucifixion.

“⁴²saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’” – Luke 22:42 (ESV)

Jesus was growing in His knowledge even at the end of His life. He had the ability to stop the crucifixion be God as man, but in God’s wisdom, He ensured this was a learning opportunity for Jesus just as most other opportunities we encounter.

I have to remember that I am just a man and that even as Jesus grew strong late in life, I can still grow stronger as I go through this world late in my life.

Are you still growing? Are you under the impression that you have learned it all and have no more growing to do? What if you approached each day as another to grow strong in body, mind, and spirit?

I have been in love with Christ since my 14 year of life, and that is 36 years. I have also been married to Lori for 24 years and that is almost half of my life. To say that either of those relationships have been a bed of roses at every turn would be untrue. The thing about love is that it makes overcoming difficulties a virtual certainty. Love is something that is more powerful than anything else out there.

“⁶Set me as a seal upon your heard, ans a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave, its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD.” – Song of Solomon 8:6

I have two loves in my life for the great majority of my life and those loves make things easy for me to overcome things. No the overcoming is not easy, but anything in life worth having is not easy to attain or keep.

I realize that I may be a bit contradictory in what I am speaking as to easy and difficult. What I am referring to is that when difficult things pop up, it is easy for me when I turn to my love for guidance in overcoming those. God is easy to love as He provides so much for me at all times. And Lori is easy to love as she loves me back and we are in this together. What is difficult is the battle that we must fight to get to the love and allow that love to overcome where we need it to do so.

I know that God’s love is greater than any love and by latching on to Him will allow for my ability to overcome. But I must not set aside the love of Lori each day that gives me strength to continue fighting each day. I have to let love be strong for me and my desire to move forward. God and Lori love me and as such they are my strength as I progress through this world.

Where is it that your strength lies? Are you looking for strength in the world? What if you were to reach to God and allow His strength to reign in your life?

This morning I was brought to a reference verse of one that I studied just a bit ago, Psalm 61:3. The verse reminded me that my refuge and strong tower just as David exclaimed is in God and this morning in Proverbs I am reminded once again.

“¹⁰The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous man runs into it and is safe.” – Proverbs 18:10 (ESV)

As I read the verse this morning, the thing that stands out to me is that “the righteous man runs into it”. There is no hesitation or timidity with seeking safety in the LORD. I see in my minds eye a man sprinting to take cover in a building. There is no waiting for the difficulty to go passed or by, only running and seeking the safety and security of God.

“¹¹A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.” – Proverbs 18:11

Now there is a significant difference in what I see here. The man described is simply sitting and waiting, expecting that the difficulty will go away as a result of his position. He already has it all in front of him and as such, does not need any assistance.

I know that I need help and I need the strong tower of protection from God. I will run to Him in my time of need and seek His glory.

In your time of need, where are you looking? Are you sitting, waiting for the difficulty to pass? What if you took the opportunity to run to God, the strong tower of protection He is and provides?

It goes without saying that we should put our trust and safety in God. There are many examples in the Bible of the men of God doing just that and over the past years I have studied a good number of them. What brought me to study this another time is my study of the word “strong” as I have been for the past few weeks.

“⁷I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.” – Psalm 71:7 (ESV)

The first thing that I had to take some time studying was the word “portent” which has many different meanings. I looked in the dictionary I have at my desk, and then online which still confused me based on the context of the passage. You see there it was defined as a sign or an omen or a wonder. In the verse above you see the word “but” that negates that meaning. So I went to some commentary found in the online app, Bible Hub, to see if I could get additional clarity, and below is what I found as coming from the Geneva Study Bible.

“All the world wonders at me because of my miseries: both those in authority and the common people, yet being assured of your favour, I remain steadfast.”

What a great amount of insight I was given with just that one sentence expound on the original verse. When I look at the totality of the verse and the comment from the Geneva Study Bible I now understand.

People wondered at David because he continued to be who he was. As king, he had the power to avoid misery and difficulty and yet he accepted them. Even as a man after God’s own heart, he hid from Saul and fled the palace from his own son. And what they did not understand was that David did not seek refuge or protection from the world, he sought God and placed his full trust in Him.

I have fallen into the trap of seeking the favor of the world to solve and resolve my problems. I was looking not to “disappoint” the world with my actions. I should continue to place my trust in God and in God alone. The world really has nothing to offer me, it is in God that my refuge should be. I must remain strong in my reliance in Him and allow the world to say and act as they do, knowing that I am doing the will of God in my life.

Where are you placing your trust and refuge? Are you worried about what others in the world are saying about or acting toward you? What if you were more like David and stayed strong and true to your refuge in the Lord our God?

I have a home that protects me against the elements of weather outside. It also somewhat protects me against those that seek to harm me (I say somewhat as if a criminal wants to harm they will find a way to accomplish that). But there is more complete protection that I can rely on.

“¹Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; ²from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, ³for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.” – Psalm 61:1-3 (ESV)

God provides protection from all and all we need do is ask and rely on Him. Notice the words of David, “Hear my cry”. David is reaching out to God for help in all situations. And He knows that God provides shelter and a stronghold to find safety and comfort, “you have been my refuge, a strong tower”. What a statement by a man. Granted, a man after God’s own heart, but a man none the less. David knows that in his time of need, he should be seeking God’s strong tower of protection.

I find myself in need and in those times it is up to me to seek help and protection. I must remember that protection is best sought and found in God. He is my refuge and my strong tower of protection “against any enemy”, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. God provides the answers to all of my prayers. I must seek His face and strong tower.

When you are in need, where is it that you are seeking protection? Are you looking to do things on your own? What if you were to seek the strong tower of protection from God instead?

Over a year ago I was studying the word “wait” and was led to Psalm 27:14.

“¹⁴Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” – Psalm 27:14 (ESV)

I was led to the realization that waiting was a demonstration of dependence on God. As we wait, we let others know that God is in control and that we are on His path and timing.

Waiting is also a demonstration in strength. It is so easy to be distracted by speed and instant gratification. And when we are distracted, we demonstrate our weakness to that which is just that, a distraction as opposed to keeping our eyes on the path we are on. That distraction is likely placed there by Satan to take our eyes off of God.

I have to remember to rely on the strength that God has given me to stay and focus on that which will bring Him glory knowing that when I do, I will be rewarded with blessings beyond this world. My strength to wait demonstrates my dependence on Him and the confidence that the Lord will be visible to me when I am looking for Him and His guidance in my life.

Are you waiting for God? What strength is needed for you to demonstrate you waiting on God? What if you were to put all else aside and focus your attention on waiting for God?

I have been up against some pretty big foes in the past. Whether physically, professionally, spiritually, mentally, or emotionally, those foes have been significantly daunting and overwhelming.

“¹After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.” 2 Chronicles 32:1 (ESV)

And you can see in just this one verse that I am/have not been alone. The people of Judah were under siege here and had every right to be concerned and afraid of the impending outcome. But the people had greatness on their side that they were in need of being reminded.

King Hezekiah did not just sit back and let God do all the work. He took action by cutting off the water that the Assyrians were relying on. Then he fortified the wall around the city and built an additional wall. And then he really went to work, by gathering the people together and gave them the reminder of God’s Love.

“⁶And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, ‘⁷Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. ⁸With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.’” – 2 Chronicles 32:6-8 (ESV)

Hezekiah did not order the people to fight, he encouraged them. Hezekiah reminded the people that God was on their side and that no matter the foe, they would ultimately prevail as it was in God’s plan to do so. No fear to motivate, it was love that was used to motivate. The love and protection of the LORD our God.

I am so glad that God is there to “have my back” as I go into battle. There is no adversity that will not be overcome with His guidance and help. No, I may not always conquer, but I will always receive what is in the plan of God for me to receive. I only need to remember to be strong and know that God is there, on my side. He is and will always be there with His arms of protection around me. I may get nicked and injured from time to time, but I am ultimately protected from ultimate defeat, for God will not lose and with Him in my corner, I will not lose either.

When you are facing adversity, where is it that you turn for assistance? Do you know who is fighting on your behalf? What if you were to turn your eyes to God and be strong and know that He is with you?

I think of times when I have it in my mind to accomplish something and there is nothing that will get in my way to make it happen. I think of Olympic athletes that work for a lifetime to have the opportunity to represent their countries in competition. They attend the Olympic trials with everyone else and in some cases are the favorite to achieve the goal, only, for one reason or another, they do not succeed.

“⁶Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. ⁷David said to Solomon, ‘My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. ⁸But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth.”’” – 1 Chronicles 22:6-8 (ESV)

David who had been called a man after God’s heart would seem to be the one to build the temple. He was the king and had all the rights to do so based on his position in the kingdom in this world as well as being so close to God. But, it was not to be. God had other plans and had a legitimate reason as to the why.

What I take away from this passage is not that David was denied the building of the temple, but the very idea that he embraced it and formally charged Solomon to do so.

“¹¹Now, my son, the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you.” – 1 Chronicles 22:11 (ESV)

David was not selfish in his undertakings and did not look to build his name through further actions. In fact, he embodied the very idea of being a man after God’s heart. He embraced the charge from God that Solomon was to build the temple and made sure to provide what was needed to not only get started, but to make the beginning a much easier undertaking.

David was strong in and with the word of the LORD. He was obedient even though he was not to get the glory himself. He worked hard to accomplish the goal and when the time came, he graciously and fully supported Solomon as the one to take the task to the end.

It is for me to be reminded that I may prepare and work hard to accomplish the goal, but when the time comes, it is my role in God’s plan that matters in the end. I am to be strong and stay in/with the word of the LORD so that His will is done and not mine.

When you spend time and energy working for something only to not fully succeed, how is it that you react? Will you be satisfied to do all the hard work and turned everything over to others when God calls them to finish the task? What if you were to be strong in/ with the word of the LORD and give others your support?