strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;—Colossians 1:11
I love the wording Paul employs here in his prayer in verse 11!
Strengthened with ALL might according to His GLORIOUS power.
Beloved…Isn’t this EXACTLY what you and I as believers want…the power of God working in us and through us…using every one of His divine attributes for our good and His glory. Oh, Father, You must increase and I must decrease!
The word for “might” according to Walvoord is “kratos.” It is “power that overcomes resistance” and is used only of God in the NT.
God’s power produces patience and longsuffering which are the attitudes believers need as they go through trials. Patience refers more to enduring difficult circumstances whereas longsuffering refers more to enduring difficult people.
I really liked reading what Warren Wiersbe’s had to say about the word patience.
We must never think that patience is complacency. Patience is endurance in action. It is not the Christian sitting in a rocking chair, waiting for God to do something. It is the soldier on the battlefield, keeping on when the going is tough. It is the runner on the racetrack, refusing to stop because he wants to win the race.
I love that description! I needed it today. Maybe you did, too. Beloved..stay the course. God has a purpose in and for everything we face in this life. Stand strong in Him and in the power of His might. Be faithful. Honor Him with your trust. Depend moment by moment on His grace to see you through all the difficulties of this life. Embrace the hard stuff and allow His strength to be perfected in your weakness.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,—Hebrews 12:1
But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.—1 Timothy 6:11-12
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.—1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.—1 Peter 5:6-7
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.—Jude 24-25
