The Lord Stands With Us And Strengthens Us

-March 9, 2022-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.”

(2 Timothy 4:17).

Paul had been through many difficult experiences in his service for the Lord. In every case, he found the Lord to be faithful. He was persecuted by both the Jews and Gentiles. His main enemy, however, was the devil, a roaring lion. The Lord Jesus who saved him on the road to Damascus told him exactly what he would go through. In Acts 9:15, the Lord said to Ananias, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Paul never gave up, in spite of all the opposition he continued to preach and teach the Word, even from prison. He especially appreciated that the Lord stood with him and strengthened him. The Lord protected him until his mission was complete. Like Paul, the Lord is with us and will use us until our mission on earth is complete. Paul spent eighteen months in Corinth serving the Lord. The Lord spoke to him with great words of encouragement. Acts 18:9-10 says, “Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.’”

We all need encouragement to keep going for the Lord. When the prophet Elijah got very discouraged, the Lord reminded him he was not alone in 1 Kings 19:18, “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth who has not kissed him.” When we stand, the Lord stands with us; when we speak, He speaks through us. He gives us the strength to carry on. Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Just as the Lord delivered Paul from the mouth of the lion, He will also do the same for us.

May the Lord continue His work in us and through us. The time is short and we must redeem the time for the days are evil. The Lord stands with us and strengthens us for our mission of spreading the gospel and helping others.

Have a blessed day of serving the Lord in and by His strength. Stay safe and healthy.

In His service,

Dean