Great Accomplishments

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13

What does being Christ-occupied look like? During Bible study our Pastor asked this question. 

Because He is in me and I am in Him my response was "seamless integration." This dynamic explains how I can live out Philippians 4:13.

My friend, Gary Pike, picked up on that thread and offered an outstanding insight. "I can't do ALL things," Gary insisted, "but, everything that I do can be done through Christ who strengthens me."

Shifting the emphasis away from "all" and onto "through Christ" gave this Scripture a richer meaning.

Barely topping out at five feet tall, I'd be no match for Air Jordan in a slam dunk competition.

Even if Dr. Ben Carson was at my side, no one in their right (or wrong) mind would want me performing their brain surgery.

Under duress, humans can perform impressive feats of strength normally impossible. No one, however, can do it all. What we are capable of we can execute with excellence through Christ.

Most of us don't lead glamorous lives. Our days are filled with routine and even monotonous tasks. Often we operate on auto-pilot, day dreaming of a great adventure we'd love to have.

Instead of finalizing plans for an exotic expedition, we have lawns to mow, laundry to run, meals to cook and bathrooms to clean.

Our only opportunity to scale to new heights is by means of a ladder when we clean out the gutters. The white water we experience comes from washing the car and the dog - not shooting the rapids.

Thank God Christ lives in us. It is His strength that propels us through times of unending drudgery. 

Because of Him we can hold our tongue when a cashier struggles to make correct change or can cheerfully return any mistaken overage. We can extend patience to family, friends, co-workers and strangers when they fail to meet our expectations.

In addition, when hard-pressed and weary we can tap into a special reserve of much needed energy or relax without guilt when we've reached our limit or if He says, "No."

How about you? How would you describe a Christ-occupied life? How can the ability to do all things through Christ help with those boring but necessary tasks?

When have you come to the end of yourself and  found His strength kick in to power you through to the finish? Would you ever want to live any other way?