A lot of athletes have been getting in trouble because of secretly taking steroids to artificially boost their strength and gain a competitive strength advantage over other athletes.
There’s no denying that strength is increased, but the consequences of being caught are very high. As in shame and stripping of victories and even prosecution.
There’s a kind of steroid boost that isn’t to be secret. In fact, this boost is to be public and purposeful and filled with long-term benefits. I’m talking about a spiritual steroid boost.
This is not something that we concoct ourselves, even though countless religious apothecaries attempt to do so. Instead, this spiritual steroid boost comes from the Lord’s hand.
We find our boost sometimes in the encouraging words given us by another believer stirred by the Holy Spirit to speak kind words to us.
We find our boost sometimes in the open doors of Gospel influence with an unsaved person for whom we’ve been praying for months, perhaps years.
We find our boost sometimes in the laser-accurate answer from God’s Word while we’re praying for wisdom in dealing with a difficult situation at work.
Or we find our boost sometimes in the ministering mercy of the Abba Father who forgives our stupid sin rather than forever labeling as “Stupid.”
Why this topic today? Here’s a passage from today’s One-Year Bible.
“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” (Romans 4:20-21)
This passage about Abraham carries a number of messages but I want to share only one just now. Abraham’s faith was not profound simply because he was Mr. SuperBeliever, but instead because God poured affirmations into him so that the only logical conclusion in life was that God reigns and provides.
Abraham’s faith was strengthened by God. That’s why he did not waver in unbelief.
We won’t have the faith we need if we don’t pay attention to the efforts of God to strengthen our faith.
When God graciously sends encouraging words our way — such as how my friend Danny Abdo blessed me yesterday — it’s not an accident. Instead, it’s God’s way of strengthening our faith.
When a typically hard-hearted relative or co-worker has a brief period of receptiveness to hearing about your faith or church life, it’s not because you’ve changed. Instead, the briefly open door might exist because your consistent testimony has blended with the Spirit’s prodding of the unsaved person’s heart. As you share your faith, you are encouraged and reminded that God IS able to reach the Lost.
Actually, my friend, God offers many more spiritual steroids that we think. We just have to recognize them as His handiwork.
The more that we do, the more strength of faith we’ll feel and the more glory we’ll bring to God.
As always, I love you
Martin
