Be Strong, and Let Not Your Hands Be Weak! [2 Chronicles 15:7]

Even in this world, when a reward is offered and the way to receive it is made known, people make every effort in order to obtain it. In the same way, spiritually, we must know through the Bible how we may receive a reward from God, and we must also strive according to that word. And we must remember that the reason we desire to receive a reward is so that we may give every reward back to Jesus (Rev. 4:10-11).

Because the only One who can help us is Jesus, it is especially important that the more difficult and painful things become, the more we depend on Jesus, remain strong, and do not let our hands become weak. This is connected to our "reward."

2 Corinthians 12:(7-)10 "... 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

In the words above, the apostle Paul was not shaken even by the severe physical suffering he had, but rather made the confession of faith: "when I am weak, then am I strong."

Daniel’s three friends also showed the following faith, even in the urgent situation of being thrown into the burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:(13-)15-18 "... 15Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

In the end, Daniel’s three friends were thrown into the fiery furnace, which had been heated seven times hotter than usual, but because God was with them, they survived without any part of them being harmed. The faith shown by the three friends in the words "But if not" clearly teaches us that no matter what result may come to us, we must keep the "faith of Jesus" to the end. Regardless of the result, how strong and bold we remain in faith in a moment of crisis, and how we keep our hands from becoming weak, is what determines whether we can receive a reward from Jesus or, on the contrary, fail to receive that reward.

God delivered Daniel’s three friends, but He did not heal the thorn in the flesh that the apostle Paul had. Even so, no one thinks that the apostle Paul was forsaken by Jesus. This is because, just as Paul said, the power of Jesus was made even more manifest through his weakness. At times, because people lack discernment, they may become discouraged when the result does not seem good. But according to the testimony of the Bible, our Jesus is surely the One who helps us only for our good!

Therefore, instead of being anxious about future results, it is important that in our present difficult and painful lives, we strengthen our hearts with faith in the words of Jesus and do not let our hands become weak. When we stand firmly upon the words of Jesus in the name of Jesus in the midst of crisis, that becomes our reward, and the result will be done according to the will of Jesus...

Matthew 10:22 "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved."

Amen.