Seeking Jesus First Aug. 21, 2025

Be strong and work for The LORD is with you.

“Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’ “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”” (Haggai 2:4–9, NKJV)

I know this passage had its prophetic purpose in Israel over 500 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. However, let’s look at this for the principle that it sets forth.

Be strong and work, for The LORD is with you. Do not be afraid because My Spirit remains on you.

Psalm 127 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.”  These two passages tell us about a partnership between us and God as we work and build. He is with us. His Spirit abides with us. We remain strong and work. His anointing and blessing empowers and prospers our work. He fills the temple with His glory and with provision.

Whatever you are doing, if you are “in your lane” doing what God has given you purpose to do, be strong and do the work. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,” (Colossians 3:23, NKJV)

We are each created and sanctified for a purpose of God’s choosing. He made us for something. He purposed us for something. He empowers us to do what He created us to do. We are uniquely qualified to do it. What we have to do is to be strong and work toward that purpose.