Filipenses 4:13

The apostle could say, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me" (Phil. 4:13). Christ was the apostle's strength. Were he full, with no need, he could praise the Lord. Were he hungry and suffering the pinch of the very necessities of life, no complaint passed his lips... It was as if he lived on an island, and needed not to import anything from the mainland in the way of moral support. Christ was enough at all times.

The secret of this victory over all circumstances, whether good or evil, was Christ. It was "not I but Christ." In himself he had no strength, but all His strength to be abased and to abound, to be full or hungry, in abounding and in suffering want, was the Lord Jesus Christ. And this strength continually flows from and is supplied by our relationship with Christ as it is maintained by faith in a close walk with Him.

Do not say, A Christian can do all things; it is quite true in the abstract, but not what the apostle says. "I can do all things through Him who strengtheneth me." "I have learned in whatsoever state I am to be content." He found Christ always sufficient.

He had found with regard to that, in whatever circumstances he was, a perfect content. He knew how to be abased on the one hand. He knew (what is more difficult, no doubt,) how to abound on the other... He had learned as a disciple, had been initiated into the secret of how to be full and to be hungry, how to abound and to suffer need, everywhere and in all things... It was Christ who gave him the strength. No wonder, then, that it was ability for all things.

The circumstances were only a means of his learning to be satisfied in himself. Yes! for Christ was there, and it was He who gave him power, so that he had strength for all things.

Apart from Him we can do nothing; with Him, all things. So said one who had learnt it well, "I have strength for all things in Him that giveth me power" (Phil. 4:13).

The apostle was certainly a special vessel, with a special mission, but each servant of the Lord can count upon the same resources of grace in Christ to carry out whatever the Lord has given him to do. It is still true what the Lord said to His disciples, "Without me, ye can do nothing"; but it is also true, even as Paul found in his service, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13).

The very weakest saint can do all things through Christ. But if man's eye rests on this weak saint, it seems like presumption to talk of "doing all things."