Do you remember what Popeye would do when he got in a jam? He would devour a can of spinach to empower himself. Then his muscles would bulge and he would become a one-man wrecking machine. Well, you need to empower yourself, too – but not with spinach.
In Ephesians 6 we are given a close-up view of the spiritual conflict. Just prior to this, however, the Apostle Paul has been giving careful instruction as to how to live life in a way that will please God. He’s talked about personal matters and marriage and family and work, and then he says in verse 10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.”
You see, it’s hard enough to do all of the things God wants you to do, but what makes it even more difficult is the fact that the devil is doing everything he can to keep you from succeeding. In Football, any wide receiver can catch the ball. But what separates the really good ones from the others is the ability to catch the ball with a defensive back all over him trying to keep him from catching it. Well, that’s what the Christian life is like. So Paul says that you need to empower yourself in the Lord.
This word, “be strong” is a Greek verb that means, “to strengthen or empower.” It’s in the imperative mood, which means it is something you must do. And it’s in the middle voice, which means it is something you do to yourself.
Now you and I are not strong enough in ourselves to handle this spiritual conflict with the devil. So we have to rely upon the Lord and His strength to empower us. Instead of gulping down a can of spinach like Popeye, we go to Christ and strengthen ourselves in Him.
“…be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.”
Hey – the devil is really serious about this! Are you?