When I looked through my comic books as a kid, there always seemed to be an ad for getting stronger. A skinny guy would be pictured at the beach with a girl when a muscular he-man would strut over, kick sand at the guy, and steal his girl. (I don’t why the girl would want to go with a bully, but the point was that the skinny guy couldn’t defend himself.) “But you can buy our product, bulk up, and become strong.”

Is that how you view “strong”? Being able to defend, protect, strut, and even intimidate others rather than suffering on the receiving end of whatever agenda the strong ones have? Strength could then mean holding others in check and possibly even getting your way. Strong means force.

That seems not the way the New Testament. Check out our scriptures for Sunday. Ephesians 6:10-13 specifically states that we are not contending against people but against spiritual forces trying to have their way with us. The battles are internal, not external.

Another view is presented by the story in the Gospel of John ( John 6:61-69 ). While others are deserting Jesus because of his hard-to-understand teachings, some are staying strong and true and loyal.

When you desire to be stronger, is it in order to press your will out into the world or inwardly to be the kind of person you want to be? What is your greatest enemy; what bullies you around? There are real bullies out there and we’re not intended to be a victim. Nations strive to be strong enough to chase away potential enemies (though, often the ward within bring great harm as well). We find ourselves hooked by forces beyond the individual foe, which continue to do us harm.

Addictions, fears, fantasies — all can whack us around… if we are not strong.

I would love to get your comments or questions about this, before or after the traditional service. Just click here.

(The contemporary service is in the midst of its own series introducing the re-start of that service now called Cross Connect .)