Stand Up For Your Faith

Are you fight or a flight person? Are you willing to fight for what you believe? Have you taken hold of your faith? Is your faith evident to anyone who encounters you? Are you willing to be ridiculed, ostracized, or even beaten for your faith? Will you die for it?

Most of us do not like confrontation. Even if we like to argue, it is not a true confrontation as we see it, but more of a debate or contest we want to win. When it comes down to a true test of wills, many of us will back down or at least will not take pleasure in it.

There are many things in this world which are not worth fighting over. It doesn’t really matter what color a room is painted. There is no long-term effect on whether we eat green beans or peas with our supper. But there are a handful of things we should stand up for.

We should be willing to stand up for our faith. It can be challenging. We may be ridiculed by others for it. We may be ostracized for it. We may even be beaten for it. Experiencing any of these can make us shy away from standing up for our faith. This is especially true if we are seeking to be accepted by a certain group of people.

Yet, as the Apostle Paul encourages Timothy to stand up for his faith, we also are encouraged to stand up for ours. How can it be easier for us to do so? It is easier if we fully understand who Jesus is and if we have a community of believers we belong to that support us. It is through the church that we belong to a community of believers and we can gain a better understanding of who Jesus is.

I pray we all stand up for our faith in Jesus. I pray we belong to a community of believers. I pray each one of us will seek to better understand who Jesus is and the importance of what He has done. Stand up for your faith. Take hold of eternal life. Be part of a community of believers. Support one another. Confess your faith.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Royal Priesthood

Have you ever thought of yourself as chosen? Have you thought of yourself as a priest? Do you consider yourself to be part of a holy nation? Do you proclaim the mighty acts of Jesus?

I dare say many of us often do not feel as though we are chosen. We may even feel as though we have been left out. The world may have seemed to pass us by, leaving us in its dusty trail.

The Apostle Peter had a different outlook. He tells the followers of Christ he is writing to that they are chosen. He tells us we are chosen. God has specifically chosen each one of us for a reason and for a purpose.

Peter goes on to tell them they are a royal priesthood. This would have been an outrageous statement. It is an outrageous statement today. But that doesn’t make it any less true. We are priests, ambassadors, emissaries, and representatives of Jesus Christ.

God chose us because he loves us. He loved us enough to send his Son to be our Savior. He loves no matter what we do or say. But he does have a purpose for us.

Our purpose is to proclaim the mighty acts of God. Many of those acts were performed by Jesus. We are to tell others about Him so they will believe and commit themselves to Him, just as we have.

I pray we all believe we are chosen. I pray we act accordingly as priests of Jesus Christ. I pray each one of us proclaim the mighty acts of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. You are chosen. You are a royal priest. You are part of a holy nation. You belong to God. Be a good ambassador. Be a good representative.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Living Stone

What does it mean to you to live? Is living having a good job? Does it include having a spouse you love dearly? Does living mean doing exciting and joyful things? Is it having enough money to take vacations to foreign lands? Have you thought it is being part of God’s church?

We hear some say they want to truly live. They may mean to live a life that has meaning. That may include helping others. It may mean making a difference in the world. They might mean living includes creating something useful. Or it may simply mean they want life to be one long party.

When we look at Peter’s instruction to his audience, it means none of those. He states that we are living stones being built in God’s church. It means we are being put together with other living stone, other people, on the foundation, or cornerstone, of Jesus Christ. What does that mean?

It means no one can be a lone ranger Christian. It means we need to be in community with other Christians. It means we have a place where we fit, where we fill the gap. Each one of us was created for a purpose. The big picture is God is creating his church by putting us together. He is arranging the pieces as he sees fit. He has designed each one of us to fit in a specific place to fill the gap that would otherwise go unfilled.

In layman’s terms, that means we should seek to discover our place. We should evaluate the skills, talents, and gifts God has blessed us with and discern how we can use them in his church. Being a living stone that is being placed firmly on the foundation of the cornerstone is a wonderful place to be.

I pray we all know that we are living stones. I pray we know that Jesus is the cornerstone, the foundation. I pray each one of us will seek to find our place in God’s church and be willing to fill the gap. Jesus is the cornerstone. Jesus is the foundation. You are a living stone. You are being built into the church of God.

1 Peter 2:4-5 Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Be Prepared

Have you ever felt you were walking into a trap? Have you unexpectedly walked into a trap? Have you been blindsided by bad news? Where do you turn when you feel trapped or bad news comes? Do you have friends, family, or co-workers you turn to? Do you turn to God first?

Whether we expect it or not, we all will experience something bad in our lives. Whether we are prepared for it or not, something will go wrong. Whether someone intentionally sets a trap for us, or we naively fall into one, we will step into a situation that entraps us.

The question is not ‘if’, but ‘when’ will something bad happen. We need to prepare as best we can for it. We need someone we can count on. Some of us have amazing families who stand by us and will do whatever it takes to help us. Some of us don’t. Some of us have wonderful friends who will stick with us through thick and thin. Some of us don’t. Some of us work for good companies and have great co-workers who will support us in our time of need. Some of us don’t.

If we choose, all of us can go to God. But notice the Psalmist’s request. He is asking for help before he is trapped. This is preparing for bad things to happen before they happen. This is leaning on and trusting God before we have stumbled and fallen. Make no mistake about it, God will always be there, even if we grow distant or do not lean on him beforehand. The difference is, rather than reaching out in desperation after something bad has befallen us, we are proactively reaching out to God for his hand of protection and preparation. Our trust and faith in God before something bad happens may eliminate the bad, but minimally reduces its effect.

I pray we all reach out to God every day. I pray we build our trust and faith in God before something bad happens. I pray each one of us will seek God each day and make him our rock. Build your trust in God. Build your faith in God. Seek God out each day. Ask for his hands of protection. Be prepared.

Psalm 31:3-4

You are indeed my rock and my fortress; 

for your name’s sake lead me and guide me, 

take me out of the net that is hidden for me, 

for you are my refuge.

Words and Works

Is there an authority figure in your life? Was one of your parents a person who always seemed to be in control and someone you aspired to be like? Is there someone who has had a significant impact on your life? Do you continue to try to live up to the image of that person?

Many of us had role models we looked up to as kids. Sometimes that role model was a parent. Other times the role model was someone we saw from a distance. Whomever it was, we thought they had it all together. They were a person we wanted to be like when we grew up.

That person may still have an impact on our lives. The impressions we had as a young child may continue to influence our lives more than we realize. We may even think like that person. It may feel as though part of them is living within us. This is as close as we can come to understanding Jesus’ quote in today’s passage.

Jesus states the Father was in Him. He says the very words He speaks come from the Father. Not only that but the Father dwells within Him. Jesus tells His disciples the Father is working through Him. Though we may get a glimpse of what this means by having a similar personality of a parent, in the case of Jesus and the Father, they are one.

The disciples are told to believe what Jesus says, but if they won’t, at least believe because of the miracles He did. This is an admonition for us as well. Since there are eyewitness accounts, we should believe based on the miracles Jesus performed, even if we don’t believe everything He said. Generally speaking, we are no different than the disciples who heard Jesus. We sometimes misinterpret what He said. We may think some of His statements are over blown or exaggerated. So, if our faith isn’t strongly based on His words, it should be strengthened by what He did.

I pray we all believe Jesus. I pray we believe the Father and Son are one. I pray each one of us will have our faith strengthened based on Jesus words and the miracles He performed. Believe Jesus. Know the Father and Son are one. Believe Jesus’ words. Believe in Jesus’ miracles. Strengthen your faith.

John 14:10-11 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.”

Accepting Truth

How well do you accept the truth? Do you anger quickly when the truth you hear is not what you want to hear? Do you ignore the truth when it does not fit your desires? Have you encountered someone who doesn’t listen to the truth? How does that make you feel?

It does not take looking hard to find people who are ignoring the truth. Perhaps we are ignoring it ourselves. There are more false narratives being spouted about than we can count. We hear them every day. They come in the form of explicit lies, half-truths, and misleading statements.

Many in our world today do not want to hear the truth about Jesus. They would rather bury their head in the sand, put their hands over their ears, or simply walk away than to hear about Jesus. Believe it or not…it even happens within our churches. There are some who go through the motions of attending worship services but do not really listen to the truth.

Jesus has told us the truth. He has stated there is no way to the Father except through Him. We can live as a good a life as we can, but if we do not accept Jesus as our Savior, we cannot go to the Father. We have heard this before. We may have discarded it. We may have ignored it. But Jesus continued that statement by saying something else that was amazing.

Jesus said that if we have seen Him (meaning know Him), we have seen the Father. This is one piece to better understanding the Trinity. Jesus and the Father are one. They are the same, even if represented in two different persons. Their thoughts are the same. Their promises are the same. Their love is the same. Their righteousness is the same. Their truth is the same.

I pray we all accept the truth Jesus spoke. I pray we accept Jesus as our Savior. I pray each one of us will seek to know Jesus and thereby know the Father. Accept Jesus’ truth. Know Jesus and the Father are one. Trust in Jesus’ promises. Know that Jesus loves you. Take Jesus at His word.

John 14:6-7 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Foundational

What do you believe? What is the rock bottom truth you believe? Is there a foundational truth you believe? Do you go back to that foundation when you are troubled? Do you believe in God? Do you believe in Jesus? Do you know that that God has a place for you?

We all hit troubles in this life. When those troubles hit, they can wipe us out, we can survive them, or we can thrive in them. Much of that is determined on what we believe. What we believe will drive us through the troubles we face.

If we have no foundation, no true beliefs, troubles can wipe us out. We can hit rock bottom and never get up. We can be driven to find relief in a plethora of bad options. The only problem is…the relief is temporary, and the troubles remain.

If our foundation is faulty, cracked, or unstable, we may survive troubles. It may require everything we have. All our strength. All the gumption we can muster. We may hang by our fingernails for a while. And somehow, we make it through it.

But when we have a firm foundational belief, we can thrive through those troubles. No, they won’t be easy. They will be easier, and we will find that we have grown. We will find that we are stronger, and we stand more firmly on the foundational belief we have.

Jesus tells us to believe in Him. He promises there is a place for us with Him for eternity. That foundational belief and knowing He has sent the Holy Spirit to always be with us will carry us through the many troubles we will face in life. We can depend on Him. We can trust He will never leave us alone. We can believe His every word and promise.

I pray we all believe in Jesus. I pray we believe His promises. I pray each one of us will make Jesus our firm foundation and His promises our foundational belief. Believe in Jesus. Trust in Jesus. Know He will never leave you alone. Trust His promises. Know He has a place for you.

John 14:1-2 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

Dreams

Have you had visions? Was it a real vision or an imaginary one? Have you had explicit dreams? Have you had dreams you thought had a significant meaning? Have you experienced déjà vu? Has any of this occurred when you felt especially filled with the Holy Spirit?

We may have a dream that seems to have a significant meaning to us. It may be a dream of the future or a recalling of something in our past. It may be a dream of a place we have never been and a scene that seems to be out of place. Paying attention and remembering those dreams can be important.

Sometimes, God communicates through dreams. Sometimes, he communicates through visions. Dreams and visions are not the same. Dreams happen when we are sleeping. Visions happen when we are awake. Though awake, we may appear to be in a trance to others. Visions from God are rare today, but they are certainly not impossible.

Déjà vu is another story. It is an event we have feeling we have lived before. Some write these off as just a trick of the mind. Others think of them from a superstitious perspective. Yet, these can also be a work of the Holy Spirit. It may be a way of encouraging us to make a specific choice, one that will not harm us or one that will lead us to the next decision point God wants us to move toward.

Stephen had a very clear vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father. God allowed him to see something no mortal had seen before he was martyred. Young Saul, later to become the Apostle Paul, was there in attendance. Though it may not have had quite the impact we might expect at that moment, I’m sure Paul recalled it many times later.

Though visions are not common, they can be very powerful. Dreams that feel like they are significant to us can be very significant. We should ask God to reveal the meaning of our dreams and visions. We should not discount them. God may be giving us an answer to a question we don’t know to ask.

I pray we all seek to understand any dreams that feel significant. I pray we ask God to reveal the meaning of them. I pray each one of us pay attention to significant dreams and discern how they may impact our lives. Remember significant dreams. Ask God to reveal their meaning. Seek to understand significant dreams.

Acts 7:55-56 But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

The Voice of the Shepherd

How many voices do you know by hearing them? Do you know the voice of your parents? Do you know the voice of your spouse? Do you know the voices of your siblings? Do you know the voice of your close friends? Do you know the voice of Jesus?

We know lots of voices. We recognize them when we hear them. We may hear them from another room, but we know who is speaking. Our brains catalog those voices. They are familiar. Some of them we trust while others we do not.

Our brains are amazing organs within our bodies. They are used to record the voices we hear. They catalog them and associate different feelings about them. Our brains also associate a variety of other data with a voice, such as authority, friendship, trusting, distrusting, anxiety, obedience, disobedience, etc.

Knowing Jesus’ voice can be a little more challenging for us. Some of us may have heard the Holy Spirit speak to us within our own heads, but it is not the same as hearing a voice with our ears. No, hearing Jesus does not often require us to hear with our ears but with our heart.

Jesus may speak through any number of people. He may speak a word of wisdom through one person and a word of warning through another. Hearing Jesus requires us to be connected to the Holy Spirit and to use discernment. The audible sound we hear will not be Jesus’ voice, but the words spoken may be His.

We can also hear Jesus speak as we read the Bible. His wisdom, instruction, and guidance are there for us to read and to hear. His voice is available for us to hear, if we will listen for it.

I pray we all seek to hear Jesus’ voice. I pray we connect with the Holy Spirit. I pray each one of us will listen with our hearts and minds, while discerning to determine if it is Jesus speaking. Know the Shepherd’s voice. Jesus speaks to us today. Jesus speaks through the Holy Spirit. Jesus speaks through the Bible. Hear Jesus speak.

John 10:4 “When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

Overflowing

Is there someone who goes before you to ensure all is well? Do you have someone who prepares all your meals for you? Are you christened? Is there someone who is always there for you and makes you joyful? Are you overflowing with blessings?

For some of us, there is someone plowing the path ahead of us like a snowplow on a snowy day. It may be an older sibling. Perhaps a manager at work who sees potential. It may be or has been a person who is of the same race and is breaking barriers.

It is rare that any of us can say we are truly breaking new ground. Nearly all of us are following in someone else’s footsteps. Oh, we may be the first in a specific company to do something, but someone else in another company has broken that barrier. Even people who break records have had someone else go before them to set the records.

We all can have God going before us. It is our choice. The choice is simple but may not be easy. It requires us to follow him. As long as we are going where he wants us to go, he is preparing the way. The challenge is that it may not be where we prefer to go. If we choose our own way over God’s way, we can expect to hit speed bumps, brick walls, and ultimately end up where we don’t want to be.

Following God’s path means he prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies. It means we are blessed as God anoints us. Our blessings overflow. However, there will be times when we do not feel as though God is preparing the way. But he is. Even if there is a trial or a challenge put before us, God prepared it ahead of us so that we will grow. It often requires us to look back over our lives to see how God was working.

I pray we all know that God is preparing a path for us to follow. I pray we decide to follow that path. I pray each one of us experience the overflowing blessings of God, even if the blessing is a trial. God prepares a way for you. Follow the path God is preparing for you. Experience God’s blessings. He will overflow you with blessings.

Psalm 23:5

You prepare a table before me 

in the presence of my enemies; 

you anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows.