Shalom,
Psalm 127:2 says this:
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil -- for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.
The word "vain" is the Hebrew word "shaw'", which means: deceit, deception, vanity, falsity, emptiness, uselessness, worthlessness. Rising up early and working hard CAN BE very positive things, IF we are relying on the One, True God, and HIS ability IN us! If we are doing this under our own strength, then it becomes all of those words above! As believers in Jesus of Nazareth, we will be rewarded in Heaven for the works we do on earth that are done in obedience and with the right attitude and motive! Anything else is useless, worthless, and empty! Don't give yourself a FALSE sense of accomplishment by doing "busy work". Be busy about what GOD has called and anointed you to do, and you will have GREAT rewards!
I also love the Amplified Bible (above) for this verse. He not only gives us much needed sleep, that refreshes and rejuvenates us, but He gives TO us while we sleep! We can rest assured that while WE sleep, He does NOT (Psalm 121:3-4)! He is actively working on our behalf - AT ALL TIMES! Thank You, Jesus!
1 Corinthians 16:13 is an exhortation to all believers to GROW UP!:
13 Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it). Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength.
The Complete Jewish Bible says:
13 Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, behave like a mentsh, grow strong. CJB
A "mentsh" is: a person of integrity and honor, a stand-up person, someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character. That is how we are to show ourselves in this world. Sounds a lot like Jesus, doesn't it? EXACTLY!
In Judges 3:5-6 we se this:
5 And the Israelites dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites; 6 And they married their daughters and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
You know, those same "gods" that could NOT deliver all of the other nations from the Israelites! How could they do this? Have you ever heard the saying "out of sight, out of mind"? When they didn't have someone that they could see, constantly reminding them to serve the One, True God, the natural, human tendency is to follow what you CAN see! They did this time after time after time! The good news is that when they DID repent (change their thinking to agree with God) He ALWAYS delivered them! Not always in THEIR timing, but in His perfect time! In chapter 3 it was Ehud. Then, in chapter 4, when they did evil in the sight of the LORD again, He sent Deborah! Yes, that's right! A WOMAN! Hallelujah! God uses women, and He uses them MIGHTILY! Verse 4-5:
4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, judged Israel at that time. 5 She sat under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came up to her for judgment.
It is NOT just a modern church concept to have women ministers! God did HIS thing a very long time ago! He is STILL working through mighty women of faith today! Thank You, Lord Jesus! If you KNOW a woman in ministry today, support her! If you ARE one, be the very best YOU that you can be! And give ALL the Glory to HIM! AMEN! Here is a song by Hillsong United called "His Glory Appears" that tells of His great faithfulness to us!
Shalom in Him!
