Be Strong

Strength keeps us standing against forces that would knock us down, or pull or push us off course. Paul tells the Philippians that Epaphroditus was sick (2:26). The word sick here is the Greek work asthenesen (unstable--here of health). The same word is used for the pliable layer underneath the lithosphere on earth, the aesthenosphere, which allows the earth's plates to shift. Weakness means movable. There are cultural and political forces today causing Christians all over the world to shift away from Christ.
    Christians are called to be steadfast and immovable (1 Corinthians 15:58), calling only Jesus our Lord. We are to grow up in our faith (Ephesians 4:14, Hebrews 5:12-14, I Corinthians 3:1). This requires intense Bible study--not only going to a study once a week, as is the habit of some, but actually plugging into the Bible in the times when most plug into TV shows, music, or video games. The vast majority of our time needs to be occupied with growing in our faith. We are called to put Christ first always. If we are willing to live this kind of Christian intentionality, we will be strong and immovable. We will know falsehoods when we encounter them because our pallet will be tuned to the truth.