Thurs., 12/12/19 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 over Jeroboam, (see vv. 15 ff.).

The church on earth is certainly way outnumbered by the world (there is no doubt about that)—but the church has Jesus, the Great "Son of David" on her (our) side. Therefore, we should take courage, and fight the battles of our Lord—knowing that Christ is our risen and victorious Captain; and we can do nothing but triumph 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"]