He Increases Strength

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. 

Isaiah 40:29 

Repetition aids learning. Because God is the consummate teacher, He repeats Himself so that we will grasp the concepts He want us to understand. Our text lies within the context of God teaching His people to rely upon Him to strengthen them. He says the same thing in different ways, thus repeating the concept. This is necessary for us who, like the disciples are ‘fools and slow of heart to believe.’ Our text reiterates, ‘to those who have no might, He increases strength.’ Where we need to begin is in our realistic understanding of the fact that we have no might. Christ made the plain statement of fact, which applies to us all, ‘without me you can do nothing.’ Just as selfishness is totally related to sin, so self-righteousness and self-reliance are diametrically opposed to dependence upon Christ. We only ever run the way of His commandments after He has enlarged our heart. We cannot be strong until we are ‘strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.’ This is why in all our teaching and preaching Christ must be pre-eminent. All that must follow by way of obedience proceeds from this foundation. 

Our Holy and Wise God, 
we rejoice that You never cease to teach us  
what we need to know to glorify You. 
We praise You that Your teaching leads us to Christ, 
and holds Him before our eyes. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning