Be Strong and Do the Work… 1 Chronicles 28:10

You know how “you’re not supposed to” just open the Bible and see what verse you land on? Well, one overwhelming day, after all the cleaning and cooking and laundry, this sleep-deprived mama did just that out of desperation — and discovered the best encouragement she probably could have found anywhere else in the Bible.

“Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”

In this passage from 1 Chronicles 28:10, David is passing on the throne to his son, Solomon, but I’m pretty sure the Lord was telling me to suck it up and take care of my home.

Similarly, I love this verse in regards to healthy living as well. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us that our bodies are temples.  “…Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” He is INSIDE our bodies! We should consider these bodies as sacred as a sanctuary.  Surely, we would never imagine coming into a church building and trashing the place because it is a “house of God.” Why are we not just as careful with our own bodies where the Holy Spirit lives?

Realize, though, you’re going to have to be strong. Physical strength to do the works you’ve been brought here to do. Mental strength to stay focused and make good decisions.  How do you stay strong? You keep working those muscles.

Will it be easy? No. You have to DO THE WORK. It’s called work for a reason. Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes it’s messy. But sometimes, you just gotta do it.

Regardless of whether this passage is meant as instruction for an upcoming king, encouragement for an overwhelmed mom, or motivation for a hesitant exerciser, let’s all BE STRONG AND DO THE WORK.