“in order that he may give you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strong by his power through his Spirit in the inner person,”

(Ephesians 3:16)

How do we grow strong in our faith? We certainly know that trials and other aspects of the Christian walk are designed to teach us to rest in Jesus Christ himself and to help our faith grow stronger. Paul, though, gets at the heart of the matter. We are made strong by God’s power for his glory. In other words, if we are strong and mature in faith, it is God’s doing. Yes, we are called to participate in the process and to strive to eat meat and not content ourselves with milk, but it is the power of God behind it all.

How ought that make us feel? It ought to humble us. How quickly professing Christians tend to try and take at least some of the credit for the things that God has done. Indeed, as the Apostle Paul will write to the Corinthians, we may plant or water, but we account for nothing — it is God who brings the increase (1 Corinthians 3:7). We are simply humble servants sent to work the fields.