Together We Can

by Terry Wane Benton

When you think, "I can't make it," who is left out of that statement? Shouldn't it be, "Jesus and I can't make it?" But that can't be a true statement, can it? When thinking correctly, you might say, "I can't make it on my own, but I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me"(Philippians 4:13).

When we think correctly, we remember that we signed up to partner with Jesus and never to handle things alone again. We were "united together" in baptism (Romans 6:3-6), and we were "raised up together" and made to "sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6). From that moment onward, we deal with things "together." We pray as partners, read the word together as partners, and deal with challenges one day at a time as partners. His strength is always part of the equation.

Even those valiant Christians who suffered to the death of torture and torment at the hands of brutal men show us you can handle anything as partners together with Christ. They lived valiantly, and they died valiantly, believing "to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). But they did not pull away from Christ and then whimper, "I can't make it."

Stephen died by rocks being thrown at him, but he did not die alone, and he did not die apart from his union together with Christ. Let's re-examine our thinking if we habitually think we are alone and "can't make it." Better thoughts and words should grace our hearts and perspectives! Are we united with Christ or not? If so, it is “we” can or can’t because it is “no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). We work through everything together. If not, that is your problem!