Courage To Persevere (2 Chronicles 15:7)

But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.
– 2 Chronicles 15:7

Oh, this is so good. This is the word from God to Asa as he’s carrying out all kinds of reforms among God’s people that are good and needed. And the Spirit of God comes upon Azariah to bring this word to Asa. And the word is, “Take courage. You take courage. Don’t let your hands be weak in this work you’re doing, for your work shall be rewarded”.

2 Chronicles 15:7 calls believers to endurance with eyes on eternity.

And as I read those words to Asa, I realize those words are from Jesus to every follower of his. “But you”, hear this from God to you today, “You take courage”. You have Jesus inside you, with you, for you. So do not let your hands be weak in the work that he’s called you to today in whatever you’re walking through in your life, for your work, that’s done in Jesus’ name, for Jesus’s glory will be rewarded.

We’re living for eternal reward. Sometimes we think it’s bad to live for a reward or selfish to live for a reward, but that’s not the way the New Testament talks. Like Jesus says, “Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven”.

Think about even Hebrews 12, “For the joy set before him, Jesus endured the cross, scorning at shame, and sat down in the right hand of God”. He was doing this, going to the cross for reward. And think about Jesus with a rich young man saying, “Go sell all your possessions and you will have…” What? Treasure in Heaven. He’s not calling him to sacrifice. Ultimately, he’s calling him to eternal reward. Yes, he’s calling him to let go of things that won’t last, but to experience treasure that will last forever.

2 Chronicles 15:7 shows that eternal reward awaits faithful service.

This is the invitation that Jesus has given to us, to experience heavenly, eternal, everlasting reward. So live for that today. Take courage in this world. Don’t let your hands be weak. And do whatever work God calls you to today, knowing that your work shall be rewarded. Your work done in Jesus’ name, for Jesus’s glory in ways that honor Jesus, Colossians 3:23–24… Just even whatever schoolwork you’re doing today, whatever work you’re doing in your job, work hardily because you’re working not for this employer or that teacher.

Ultimately, you’re working for the Lord, not for men. So work for him, knowing he will reward all who live for his glory, who live not just for his glory, but by his strength, and by the grace, power he provides. So God, we pray that you’d help us to take courage today. I pray especially for any of us who feel weak, weary, and are struggling to go on in any way, who don’t know what to do, walking through trials. God help us to take courage today.

This verse pictures hands strengthened by eternal hope.

We pray that you would strengthen our hands. Don’t let our hands be weak. And help us to live today with confidence in your reward forever. And we’re so thankful this world is not the end, and the toil that we experience, trials we experience, suffering, sadness, sorrow we experience in this world are not the end. We praise you that reward is coming for all who know you, trust in you, that ultimate, full, final, redemption is coming.

So we trust in you and we pray that you’d help us to work with courage and strength, to live with courage and strength today, knowing that our work shall be rewarded. And God, we pray that you’d help us to live not just to experience this reward, but to share this reward, to bring others to this reward. God, help us to lead others to the eternal reward that’s found in you today.

Prayer for the Darzi Namdev People

And we pray that over the Darzi Namdev people of India. God, for 146,000 of them, no known followers of Jesus among this Telugu-speaking people group. God, we pray that the Darzi Namdev people would be reached with the good news of your reward, of your salvation in Jesus. And God, for all those who are working for the spread of the gospel among them and other hard places in the world, help them to take courage and strengthen their hands. May their hands not be weak, for they know their work will be rewarded. I pray this straight from your Word in 2 Chronicles 15:7. In Jesus’ name, amen.