A Day of Strength - Introduction

As the Apostle Paul concluded his famed epistle to the church at Ephesus, he encouraged the Christians there with these words, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His great power." (Ephesians 6:10)

What did Paul mean by "be strong in the Lord?" To be sure, it sounds like a condition to be desired, one that certainly beats the alternative. All of us want to be strong people, able to endure pressure and forge ahead in the face of resistance. No one wants to be weak, collapsing under life's load, unable to finish. 

Through the years, a lot of people have asked me to pray for them that they would be strong or that they would be strengthened. And, through those same years, I have met a lot of strong people who have shown incredible grace under fire; inspirational people who seem to have tapped into a source or a capacity unknown to others. What is their secret, these strong ones? 

I propose that their impressive strength actually has nothing to do with a secret; rather, they have simply found some key truths which are available to all of us.

It is obvious that God is creating a very special community out of us. He is truly making us strong in the Lord.

Peace

Stan Mitchell