What do ants, conies and spiders have in common?

 

Took the above photo a few weeks ago in my backyard and this morning received the following message from a good friend...

What do ants, conies (another word for rabbits or mountain mice) and spiders have in common...other than being a nuisance?

Just like the church of Philadelphia, they have little strength.

Proverbs 30:24-28 (KJV) 24 There be four [things which are] little upon the earth, but they [are] exceeding wise: 25 The ants [are] a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; 26 The conies [are but] a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.” Even Solomon seemed to tolerate spiders because they caught flies.

The success of these creatures is due to their diligence and instinct given to them by the Creator.

Joshua was commanded to be strong and so was King Asa.

2 Chronicles 15:7 (KJV) Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.”

How can we become strong?

Isaiah 40:29-31 (KJV) 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.”

The word wait in that verse is not passive but active: to look for diligently and expect the help to come from the Lord.

Isaiah 35:3-4 (KJV) 3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4 Say to them [that are] of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [even] God [with] a recompence; he will come and save you.”

You cannot be strong and fearful at the same time!

Our weaknesses should cause us to focus on the Lord just like Paul. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (KJV) 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

What do you turn to for strength? Can you personalize this verse? Insert your name in the following verse after the word "works".

Revelation 3:8 (KJV) I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

 

 Photos by Cathy Palmer