Today's Scripture | Proverbs 18:9
He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer
If we believe in something, we will bleed for it. We will sweat to succeed. Sweat demonstrates effort and hard work. Only in the dictionary does success precede work!
In Luke 22:44, Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, and His sweat poured out like huge drops of blood. Why? He believed in us, and He was working for us. Jesus bore the burden of our humanity, and in that moment, He struggled mightily.
He accepted a weight with which we are too familiar. Jesus, Who had never known sin, became sin, so that we could be made right with God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Our sin and shame rolled onto His shoulders, and He was separated from the Father – an agony that He had never experienced.
Hours before, He prayed of the beautiful unity that He and the Father shared. Hours later, He cried from the Cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34). He poured out His blood and sweat. He completed the work to pay a debt that He did not owe.
Where are you investing your sweat? Are you about the Father’s business? We must energetically undertake the work that Jesus commanded: to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. Sweat comes before success.
A Prayer for You Today...
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you commit to the Father’s business – to go and preach the Gospel and make disciples. May He bless the work of your hands and sweat of your brow!