Our scripture this morning is 2 Chronicles 15:5-7.
During those dark times, it was not safe to travel. Problems troubled the people of every land. Nation fought against nation, and city against city, for God was troubling them with every kind of problem. But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded.
God has told us time and again to be strong and courageous in our work for His kingdom. Moses received this command and shared it with God’s people (Deuteronomy 31:6-7). God declared it to Joshua (Joshua 1:9). In today’s passage God again tells His people to be brave in the face of their troubles.
In addition to being strong and courageous, we are told numerous times to “fear not”. We read this in Isaiah 41:10, as God prepares His children for the ordeal of the Babylonian invasion and their eventual return to rebuild the temple. Perhaps the best known of the “fear not” passages is Luke 2:10 as the angels comfort the shepherds and announce God’s presence among us.
We are able to be strong and courageous and fear not because the Lord is with us! God is always present when we invite Him into our lives. Jesus promised us “another comforter” after His return to the Father (John 14:16). We stand in His strength, not our own, to be the people He has called us to be.
Gracious God, we are weak but You are strong. Bless us to go to share Your love with the world. Amen.
