Do Your Part

“Finally, be Strong in the Lord, and in the power of His Might. Put on the Full Armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Eph 6:10-11

We are exhorted to stand firm in the Lord. Always remember, there is the availability of power, but there must be the appropriation of power.Note also the paradox of power - Ephesians 6:10 tells us that we are to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.” This is God’s part, the strength is His.However, in verse 11, it says that we have to “put on the whole armor of God.” This is our part. The strength is God’s, yet we must appropriate it. We see many such paradoxes throughout Scripture.

We are saved because we are chosen by God, yet the faith is ours. Paul says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” Gal 2:20a. In other words, I am living my life, yet Christ is living it through me.

The book of Ephesians was written by Paul, and yet was written by the Holy Spirit. You are saved by God through His Sovereignty and grace, though you committed yourself to Christ, you must live the Christian life with diligence and commitment, it is God’s power alone living through you.

You can live an impotent, lethargic, indifferent, cold, fruitless life if you wish – even though residing within you is the power to do beyond and above what you can ask or think. Eph 3:20

You can choose to live that way. You can turn your back on all the available power, blunt the energy of the Holy Spirit, and say no to the work that God wants to do through you with His divine power, if you choose. But, you can also choose to appropriate God’s strength by being obedient and by putting on the whole armor of God.

Make the right choice! Remember, God will always do His part, but we have a responsibility to do ours.