A God of Strength

Grab

Would you describe yourself as a strong person? Why or why not?

Read: “The Lord is God; there is no other.” (Deuteronomy 4:35)

Our God is a God of strength and power. This is what Moses reminded the Israelites on the eve of his death at 120 years old, having brought God’s people from Egypt to the desert and to the edge of the promised land. Moses told them how God made a nation for Himself with His strong hand, how He personally led them out of Egypt with His great power. As we read in Dt. 4:37, this is the same God who has raised us today as His people, God has a purpose that we might be His servants through whom He will show His glory. This is our great privilege – to be able to be God’s instruments, to do His very will, to accomplish His divine purpose for the life of the world.

As such, we must respond, how? Moses told the Israelites as we read in Dt. 4:40, “you must keep His statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which the Lord your God is giving you forever.”

First, we must obey God. God gives us the ten commandments through Moses at Mt. Sinai plus all the other commandments given by Jesus directly through His disciples. For us Christians, there are two commandments that can encompass everything else. One, we are to grow in holiness. Two, we are to do the very work of evangelization and mission.

Second, we must observe God’s way of life as given to us. As Christians, we are a covenanted people. We are to be faithful to our covenant knowing that this is not to burden us, but to support us to live out our calling. God calls us not only as individuals and as families, but as a community, a family of families. As a Church, we can only be properly formed and become what God intends if we remain faithful to every aspect of our covenant.

Third, we must realize that our work of evangelization is done within the context of renewing the family and defending life. When we obey God’s commands and live His way of life, then, as Moses says, our children will prosper and we will have a long life on the land. Obedience directly impacts on family and life.

In our life in Christ, we have wandered at times in the desert. We have lived our lives aimlessly. We have been lost. This happens when we lose sight of the centrality of Christ in our lives. But God is still and is always there for us. As we read in Dt. 4:36, “Out of the heavens he let you hear his voice to discipline you.” This is in order that we might be chastised, purified and grow in holiness.” Then Moses says, on earth He let you see His great fire. We witness the rapid and massive evangelization work made possible by the Holy Spirit. God continues to make clear to us what is the clear vision for our mission. The fullness of God’s strength continues to be made available to us. It is now entirely up to us how we are to respond.

We have already seen what God can do, in our personal lives, in our families, in the Church and in the world through our work. In Dt. 4:35, we read, “all this you were allowed to see that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other.” Our God is victorious, and His strong, right hand continues to be outstretched. There is none other than our God. In that, let us rejoice and confidently march on into the promised land.

Gather

For discussion, answer the following questions:

1. How am I experiencing God’s strength in my mission in the community today? What miracles has He allowed me to witness?

2. What can I do to fully tap onto the strength of God in my life?

Go Forth

Spend time in silence and personal reflection on the many ways that God became your strength in your personal and mission life. Let this fill your heart with gratitude and fuel your tenacity in renewing family and defending life. As what Bro. Frank has said, let us rejoice and confidently march on to wherever He may lead us.