BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished. The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing person skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”

1 Chronicles 28:20-21

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Many high schools are holding graduation ceremonies throughout the country this month with seniors bidding farewell to their primary education days and stepping out into the world to embark on their adult lives.

I remember my graduation feelings although they were some thirty-five years ago. You would think that all your emotions would be happy and joyful as you have reached a significant milestone in your young life. But I found that there was more than just a little anxiety and fear that invaded my elation and caused me some sizeable unrest. I wondered what I would do next and what I would do with my time. School would no longer take up my days and I would need to find a job as I was not heading onto college. I would also need to start thinking about a place to live as I knew you couldn’t stay at home forever. It was definitely an unsettling feeling.

I can’t help but think that David’s son Solomon wasn’t also feeling a little anxiety and fear. His big occasion was a little larger than a graduation. It was a coronation as his father was about to formally place him in power as king of Israel. Gone would be his days of being in the shadow of his father. Now he would be the man and bear the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders and the immediate task of overseeing construction of the Lord’s temple.

Wow! Imagine that you were Solomon and taking all this on. It had to be more than a little harrowing.

Enter into this some great words from David to his son, words to not only encourage him but all of us as well.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you.”

A simple message but one we need to always have written on our hearts and minds, a message that we can use for inspiration and strength when we are in times of need but also words we can share with others who are going through difficult or uncertain times.

Friends, we don’t serve a Lord who remains distant from us, detached and disinterested in our lives. No, the scriptures clearly tell us otherwise. For our Lord is also known by other names and Immanuel is one of them, a name that simply means “God with us”. We don’t walk this world but rather side-by-side with the Lord who made us and saves us. The Almighty Lord of all things, the King of kings and Lord of lords, is always right by our sides, standing by to use His power and might on our behalf. And no one can rival the Lord’s might, no one.

With this, truly these words of Paul are then validated:

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-36, 37-39

Contemporary Christian singer Chris Tomlin wrote a great song that simply asks, “Who Shall I Fear?”. It contains the following chorus that trumpets the confidence we find in knowing God is with us and for us:

I know Who goes before me
I know Who stands behind
The God of angel armies is always by my side
The One who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies is always by my side

Ask yourself this: Since the Lord is with me and nothing can separate me from His love, whom  or what should I fear?

In all things, we are more than conquerors. Through Christ Jesus our Lord, we have victory even over death and one day will triumph over the grave and sin and hardship and affliction and hurt. All of it will be no more and we’ll only have peace and light and love as we dwell with God the Father and Jesus His Son forever.

And so, my prayer today is that you will remember the simple words of David: Be strong and courageous for the Lord God is with you.

In the midst of disease and sickness and injury, be strong and courageous.

In the middle of relationship issues, be strong and courageous.

In the center of financial or employment difficulties, be strong and courageous.

In the aftermath of natural disasters, be strong and courageous.

In the wake of loss and its accompanying emptiness, be strong and courageous.

And when in service to our great nation and in harm’s way while supporting and defending our country, be strong and courageous.

The Lord your God is with you and He is ready to give you the courage when you want to turn and run away from the problems you’re facing.

The Lord God is with you and He will give you the strength to do all things (Philippians 4:13).

The Lord God is with you and prepared to lead and guide you through whatever your circumstances might be.

The Lord God is with you and ready to bring you peace and comfort and love on demand.

As Solomon prepared to assume authority over Israel, David gave him these assurances.

As we travel through this journey called life, the Lord gives them to us as well.

Won’t you embrace them and receive them today?

Amen.

PS: Listen to Chris Tomlin’s, Whom Shall I Fear? Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOkImV2cJDg

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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