Soaring Higher with His Divine Strength

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Oct 20, '10 4:02 AM

Hope – this four-letter word, whether we admit it or not, bears such immeasurable impact on our
lives. In this life fraught with inevitable challenges, we always cling to the hope that things will
be better after some time. “Expect the worst; hope for the best” is our daily mantra, one which
expresses our acceptance of the reality that rules life – things can go from good to bad, and
hopefully, to a better situation.

The Word of God clearly contains precise expressions of every authentic experience we have,
including our innate need for hope. This is addressed in Isaiah 40:31 which says, “But those who
hope in the Lord will renew their strength. The will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and
not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” In his commentary on the verse, Alec Motyer
states that hope, having its biblical component of certainty, means two things: wait (patiently)
and rest (trustfully).i In a single word, we are blessed with two revelations. First, we have to wait
patiently change to happen in the situations we are dealing with. Second, while we wait, we can
choose to rest trustfully, assured of the certainty of God’s sovereignty.

The promise of God though does not end in the encouraging words of certainty, faith and trust.
In the same verse, the Everlasting God assures everyone who waits and trusts the renewal of
strength. What more important thing could we ask for? This just goes to prove the
unquestionable wisdom of our Creator. According to Motyer, renew means in this particular
context, to “keep putting on fresh strength.”ii What a wonderful revelation for all of us, which
makes us love our God more and more. He, who has assured us of a better future thus exhorting
us to wait and trust, has chosen to endow us with His dose of fresh strength at the right moment.
Truly, a God of wonders!

With the truth of His fresh strength showered upon us, we are transformed from thinking that we
are mere victims of our circumstances to seeing ourselves as victors and overcomers. Like
eagles, we soar higher and higher, reaching heights we have never been to because of God’s
strength. Surely, let us expect that He will keep putting on us new strength for intimate worship,
expanding evangelism and selfless service.

Intimate worship. We are made to worship our Creator. When we experienced the new birth, we
rediscovered that we are solely “planned for God’s pleasure.”iii Knowing this truth, our
existence for God’s pleasure is our highest joy, hence, glorifying God becomes our utmost
pursuit. And as we face this new height, we are nourishing connection with our Loving Father.
We find the expression of this in our increasing devotion to His Presence. Satisfaction of our
souls can nowhere be found but in the sweet and silent communion of our spirit with God’s. As
we soar higher in God’s Presence, we can do nothing but to offer our lives in full submission to
the will of Him whose knowledge is perfectly seasoned with love. Drawing closer to Him – this
is our calling. And this is His promise in Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek me and find me when
you seek me with all your heart.”
Expanding Evangelism. The great commission has never ceased. Now, that we are entering a
new stage of relationship with God, we are called to intensify our efforts to share the message of
the Cross. In this new season where various advancements abound, innovation is our timely asset
in bringing the message of Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection which gave us our eternal
salvation. Thus, this is the right time for us to utilize everything that is at our disposal in order to
reach the lost souls in every town in our country. Truly, with the Divine strength that we will
receive from our Everlasting God, we will prove to be effective ministers of His Word,
evangelists empowered by His knowledge and grace. Even up to the last beat of our hearts, we
will continue to follow Jesus Christ’s command in Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of age.” No matter what the cost, we will go to the ends of the earth for
the sake of the greatest cause – spreading the good news of salvation from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Selfless Service. Jesus Christ showed the highest form of service in His life, death and
resurrection. He is God Eternal yet He came to give His life to mankind, sincerely professing His
mission statement: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give
his life for many.” Truly, Jesus Christ is our ultimate example, and as His followers, we are
elevating into new heights of passion and sacrifice in becoming God’s instruments in touching
the world. As sons and daughters of the God of Love, we show the fallen world what love really
is, and Augustine gave an apt description of what love looks like: “It has hands to help others,
feet to hasten to the poor and needy, eyes to see misery and want, ears to hear the sighs and
sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” This is the Christian life of love that we live, and
through our selfless service, we become the salt and light of the world, transforming it by the
power of heavenly grace, for we know that everything we do is ultimately for our Master.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
(Colossians 3:23).

Soaring higher and higher we are, as individuals and as a glorious church. We are conquering the
sky that was made for us to reach. And we will be able to do this because of God’s new strength
for higher levels of intimate worship, expanding evangelism and selfless service. Perhaps, we
have lived quite a number of years as believers of the Lord Jesus Christ and think that it is time
to gradually rest and settle down. But the opposite will be happening to those who continuously
hope in God with genuine faith. This is our calling – to soar higher, from strength to strength,
knowing that we are acquiring Divine strength. In Motyer’s words, “It is a different strength, as
if people become eagles, a strength brought about by transformation; it is divine strength, a
strength like the Lord’s own that does not weary or faint.”iv

Soar higher, JIL People! Soar higher, JIL Church Worldwide!

His Divine Strength is being poured on us, fresh and new.
i
Motyer, A. (1999). Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.
ii
Ibid.
iii
Warren, R. (2002). The Purpose-Driven Life. Manila: OMF Literature, Inc.
iv
Motyer, A. (1999). Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.