A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers  

Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  Tommy was a young man that had been born partially deaf.  His impaired hearing resulted in him not being able to clearly understand what others were attempting to communicate to him.  His mother, though, noticed that Tommy had a curious nature.  He was always tinkering around with tools, instead of toys.  He was fascinated with being creative with the most benign objects around the house.  Tommy, however, struggled when he began school at the age of four.  One day he came home from school in tears.  In his pocket was a note from his teacher that read, “Your Tommy is too stupid to learn; get him out of the school.”  Distraught and frustrated, his mother replied, “My Tommy is not too stupid to learn.  If the school will not be patient enough to teach him, then I will teach him myself.”  And so, after only three months in the public school system, his mother began pouring into him a patient curriculum of studies at home, interwoven with love and compassion.  Overcoming his disabilities, young Tommy began to thrive under the nurture of his mother.  Tommy grew up to be a great innovator and inventor.  In fact, among his greatest achievements was the light bulb.  We know Tommy as Thomas Edison.  So, my friend, how many reasons do you have to give up?  Like Thomas Edison you may have a physical challenge, or perhaps you have other challenges that you face that threatenedto thwart any chance you may have to succeed in life.  Barriers of disability, ethnicity, socio-economic status, financial limitations, as well as countless others, may loom over your lifecasting dark shadows of any hope that you will ever break out of what appears to be a die cast.  Yet in our Scripture lesson today, the apostle Paul reminds us of the unlimited possibilities that can occur if we rely on the unfailing strength of the Lord.  Paul says succinctly, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  When I have reached the extremity of my strength and resources, then I access His unlimited strength and resources.  I no longer have a reason to quit, but now I have a reason to persevere—and so do you.  His strength makes all things possible; and those new possibilities can begin now, with the advent of this new day.