Don't Waste Your Strength!

In my previous post, I wrote about “sound” words.  Those are words that are solid, firm, reliable and stable.  They are also free from error and are based on thorough knowledge and experience.  But it’s not enough to just define what they mean, it’s also crucial to determine their source.

The sound words that are sound in every way come from Jesus:  “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,” (1 Tim 6:3)

Prior to the post about “sound words”, I wrote about words that are not “idle” words.  These not “idle” words are mentioned in the book of Deuteronomy:  “They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” (Deut 32:47)

Such words, as other translations put it, give life and they mean life for us.

In this post, I want to focus on one aspect of what sound words and words that are not idle words can do.  Again, in going to the book of Deuteronomy, we find this:  “Soon you will cross the Jordan River, and if you obey the laws and teachings I'm giving you today, you will be strong enough to conquer the land.”  (Deut 11:8)

Many versions translate the laws and teachings as commands or commandments.  As for “you will be strong enough”, here is how other versions translate that phrase:

• that you may be strong
• so that you may have the strength
• so that you stay strong
• then you will be strong

 

While the words themselves didn’t necessarily give strength, when the words were obeyed, it was then that strength was gained.  And yes, it must be acknowledged that we are not part of those to whom strength was gained in order to go in and conquer the land.  Yet obedience is still a hallmark of the Christian faith..

And, to give an example of how important it is, we can look at it from an opposite perspective.  That is, what could possibly happen to our strength when we are not obedient to God’s words?  David gives us some insight into this when he wrote about what he experienced: 

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.  For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.  I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” (Ps 32:1-5)

When David disobeyed and kept silent about it, his strength was dried up.  When he finally acknowledged his sin and confessed it, he was forgiven.  And not only that, He also entered into God’s blessings.

So while we likely won’t get strength in our day to go in and conquer the land promised to Israel, we can still experience our strength being dried up when we disobey His commands.  And I don’t know about you, but I would prefer to not go about life with my strength being constantly dried up!