This is an oft quoted verse and most people use it to support the statement that there is nothing they can't do - absolutely nothing - because of Jesus' power working in them. Well, Jesus and the Holy Spirit certainly empower us in many supernatural ways, but that is not what this verse is saying. Look at the context. Paul is talking about circumstances. Paul is saying he can put up with anything life throws at him and he can do it with grace and good humour. No whingeing or complaining' no cries of 'poor me' here. Paul exemplified the lifestyle he sets out here: Let your gentle spirit be known to all men Don't worry about stuff. Talk to God about it. Ask! Rejoice! Rejoice all the time! Think about the good stuff, not the bad. All these things are partt and parcelof the mindset that allowed Paul to say that whatever circumstances he faced he could be content. He could meet it head on, as I said, with grace and good humour.  Read less

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Som people make heavy burdens for themselves. They believe they have to reach a certain standard or adhere to a certain set of laws and principles. Some fail to reach this level and live in a life of guilt and self hatred. Some do manage to meet their own expectations, but live such a rigid, structutred life that they have no joy. Some times theses expectations are put on us by others and by groups we belong to - often churches and religious groups. This is the context in which Jesus makes the statements of Matthew 11:25-30  Read less

God has made us and not we ourselves. Several thousand years before Charles Darwin was even born the Psalmist anticipated the Theory of Evolotion which argues that all life including man somehow evolved from some primeval microbe and somehow decided to grow legs, arms, lungs, eyes, ears, a brain and so on and so on... What was the mechanism driving this amazing evolution? The Darwinists never answer that. The only possible explanations are that God did it (an idea Darwinists would reject) or that something within ourselves did it... or, even more unlikely, it was an amazing series of accidental mutations. No; we are not an accident and what we are is not because of us - wedid not make ourselves. God did it all!!  Read less

I always thought that this verse was speaking about witnessing - i.e. use every opportunity that comes your way to preach the Gospel and share about Jesus. I realised tonight that this verse is not saying that. Sure, we should witness and if a chance to do some comes up let's not shirk from it. However; I believe this verse is saying something more than that. I believe this verse is saying that we need to remember that we are ambassadors for Jesus and we should use all opportunities that come our way to impact on people by showing them the nature, love and coompassion of God. I f someone asks a favour, do it. If someone goes out of their way to be horrible to you, you go out of your way to be nice to them. If a chance comes up to be helpful or kind or generous to people then take it. Yoiu don't actually have to open your mouth to have an impact on people. We all know that actions speak louder than words, so act. Some of us get quite intimidated by the thought of witnessing to someone, but all of us can show Jesus to people. Like Paul said, make the most of every opportunity. Go that extra mile. Turn the other cheek. Lend and don't ask for a return. Whatever it is, take the opportunity. What a great relief, release and, yes, responsibility this is. Stop feeling guilty becaise you can't talk...DO instead! That's a much more powerful message.  Read less