Christian Strength

"Let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! Then we shall not turn back from  you; give us life, and we will call upon your name!"
Psalm 80:17-18

How we all long to be strong Christians. We long to live like our brothers and sisters before us, and see sin and worldliness laying slain around us like Samson's Philistines. What  is Christian strength and where does it come from and where does it lead us? The answer is shown here in this psalm and other places in the Bible.

• Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.-1 Peter4:11

•  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.-Ephesians 6:10

• And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength.-Isaiah 49:5   

The strength that God gives the Christian is not Shamgar's oxgoad to be picked up and swung in our own might and skill. The strength that God promises the Christian and which all the godly men and women in the Bible long for is a strength in resolve. Resolve to run after God harder and to stop seeking out worldly comforts and instead look to our God who is the only One capable of granting us the victory whatever the battle circumstances may be. God promised to drive out the Canaanites before the Israelite people and bring them into the promised land. The strength that they lacked and which lead to wandering in the wilderness was the strength to trust God with the battle. It takes strength to trust God and not to turn your back to Him and this is the strength that the Bible tells us to crave. God supplies the "strength" and the "strength" is to trust Him more. God help us.