Last time I talked about standing firm in God’s Word and having God’s Word stand firm in us. Today the topic is “Standing Firm in the World.”
As Christians, we are to be in the world but not of the world as Jesus said in John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
Everyday there are churches and pastors and preachers, who were once defending and teaching God’s Word, changing their teachings and beliefs, contrary to the Word of God, in order to increase attendance and to gain acceptance by the world!
Prov 10:25 – “When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.”
Matt 10:22 – “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Would you rather be swept away with people that accept you and like you or standing firm with the Lord forever? It can be hard when we work around people that don’t believe in God and who look at us differently because we do believe in God. But it doesn’t matter how much ridicule, teasing, abuse or mistreatment you think you have ever received or are afraid of receiving, think of Jesus. Think of the beating, the whipping, the scourging, the spitting, the cursing, the nails driven into his wrists, his feet, think of the pain He endured. Think of the abuse He took. Think of the ridicule He received.
Can you or I say that we have gotten that because we are Christians? I think not.
If Jesus can go through that for us, so we can be forgiven from our sins and become children of the living God, the least we can do is be bold and proclaim that gift He gave to us and offers to all, especially those that ridicule us. Jesus forgave the criminal on the cross who was hurling insults one moment and then saved the next. He asked God to forgive those that crucified Him.
The key to living in the world and not of the world is found in these verses:
Phil 1:27 – “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:1 – “…walk worthy of the calling with which you were called”
Colossians 1:10 – “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”
Is the way we live our lives? Does our life represent the love and grace of Jesus Christ? If you were to tell someone you were a Christian, would they be shocked because of the life you really lead? We are to live out our faith and bear the fruit of our salvation that abides in us through Christ Jesus.
1 Cor 15:58 – “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Sometimes we can feel defeated and feel like “What’s the use?” “No one listens to me” “They all make fun of me if I try to share Jesus with them” “No one will like me if I tell them I go to church and believe the Bible.”
Please don’t be discouraged and remember that we are to not seek the praises of men but to glorify our Father in Heaven. The more you are persecuted and attacked by the enemy, the more you should be encouraged because you are doing something right.
Jesus died on the cross for us, the least we can do is be proud of that and not be ashamed!
Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes”
In closing, I leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the believers in Corinth and as he encouraged them to stand strong in their faith, I also encourage you to stand strong in your faith while in this world.
1 Cor 16:13 – “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”
Glory be to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! AMEN!
