Be Strong and Work - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!

"Now be strong and work; for I am with you," says the Lord of hosts.
2 Chronicles 15:7; Haggai 2:4

Be Strong and Work
We would like to link together these two scriptures that speak of being strong and working for the Lord. First, in 2 Chronicles, we see that king Asa has just won a great victory over the one-million-man army from Ethiopia. Sometimes, after a great victory which the Lord in His grace gives us, there is a tendency to settle back and let our hands be slack. We can be thankful for times of rest which the Lord may give us (cf. 14:6). However, the prophet would remind king Asa that he was to be strong and not let his hands be weak, even after such a victory. As believers today we can thank the Lord for the victories He gives, and the times of rest He gives, but then let us continue to be strong and work for Him. There will be a reward for all truly done for His sake!

Second, in Haggai, we see encouragement from the Lord in a remnant day. Only a relatively small number had returned to God's center in Jerusalem (Ezra 2). The Lord recognizes that His house that they were building was as nothing compared to the glory of Solomon's temple (Hag. 2:3). Still He encourages Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people of the land to build. He assures them that He is with them (Hag. 2:4). So for us today, may we not be discouraged if the work seems small, or if only a few of the Lord's beloved people desire to return to His gathering center today (Mt. 18:20). Let us be strong and work in what He has given us to do, both in the gospel and in the building up of His people. He is with us!

Kevin Quartell
Revive Thy work, O Lord; give power unto Thy Word;

Grant that Thy blessed Gospel may in living faith be heard.

Albert Midlane