Mon., 12/12/16 Devotion (2 Chron. 13:8a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 13:8a, where we read these words:

"And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD, which is in the hand of the sons of David . . . "

Judah's king Abijah is here warning Israel's idolatrous king Jeroboam, that it is futile to fight against the Lord and His church. Jeroboam (the bad guy) had twice the number of soldiers as Abijah (the good guy) had; and yet God gave Abijah a great and resounding victory, (see v. 15 ff.).

The church may be in some ways vastly outnumbered by the world (and there is little doubt about that)—but the true church has Jesus, the Great "Son of David" on her side. Therefore, we should take courage; and fight the battles of our Lord—knowing that Christ is our victorious Captain, and we always conquer in and through Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer [that] fetched the angel.” —Thomas Watson, in, "All Things for Good"]