Stand Firm
“By standing firm you will gain life.”
We ought not be surprised when difficult days come. When trouble and ridicule and temptation come, why are we surprised? Jesus said that all these and worse will come our way, but by standing firm we will gain life.There’s something significant with not wavering during the onslaught – however it comes. When we keep our confidence in Christ and our identity in Him firmly fixed in our minds during opposition, we gain something. It’s a good sort of assurance. It’s courage. It’s life.Paul talked about our standing firm in the spiritual war that’s going on in Ephesians 6. He gave us the imagery of a soldier putting on armor so that we could ‘stand firm during the day of evil, and after we have done everything, to stand.’ It’s easy enough to not stand, to lie down in the midst of the battle. Life can be brutal… times can be tough… discouragement is common, but Jesus wants us to stand firm and gain life. Our hope is in Him.When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:28)As we stand up for Jesus and stand firm in the battle, the promise is life.Thank You Lord for the forgiveness of sins and the new life I have in You. Thank You for the promise of life to come! This day I have put on Your armor because this struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual darkness and the powers of evil in this world. I ask for eyes to see the battle as it really is and for the strength and courage to stand firm against it. For Your glory – King of kings.
Luke 21:19
We ought not be surprised when difficult days come. When trouble and ridicule and temptation come, why are we surprised? Jesus said that all these and worse will come our way, but by standing firm we will gain life.There’s something significant with not wavering during the onslaught – however it comes. When we keep our confidence in Christ and our identity in Him firmly fixed in our minds during opposition, we gain something. It’s a good sort of assurance. It’s courage. It’s life.Paul talked about our standing firm in the spiritual war that’s going on in Ephesians 6. He gave us the imagery of a soldier putting on armor so that we could ‘stand firm during the day of evil, and after we have done everything, to stand.’ It’s easy enough to not stand, to lie down in the midst of the battle. Life can be brutal… times can be tough… discouragement is common, but Jesus wants us to stand firm and gain life. Our hope is in Him.When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:28)As we stand up for Jesus and stand firm in the battle, the promise is life.Thank You Lord for the forgiveness of sins and the new life I have in You. Thank You for the promise of life to come! This day I have put on Your armor because this struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual darkness and the powers of evil in this world. I ask for eyes to see the battle as it really is and for the strength and courage to stand firm against it. For Your glory – King of kings.
