Believers stand in grace - Rom. 5:1, 2. These scriptures in full, 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
This thought led me to search out scriptures about standing. There are many throughout the Word. More than half of them use the phrase “stand firm”. I am sure, however, that we cannot stand firm against all the things we face in the run of our lives, outside the grace of God.
Let’s look at some of the scriptures I looked up:
Ex. 14: 13, 14. “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.”
Almost the same words are in 2 Chron 20:17, “... stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you ... the Lord will be with you.”
One time when I was under an unfair burden of criticism, a pastor friend pointed me to the scripture in Rom 14:4, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Of course, our master is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ - we stand for Him alone. We need to stand firm - in what we believe, and in whom we believe. Easier to say than do some days, but for His great grace ...
A encouraging word in Ps 40:2 says, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Can’t get much firmer a place to stand than standing on the ROCK.
1 Cor. 15:58 tells us, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you ...” There are many other scriptures that tell us to stand firm - the last one I will include here is the well known one in 1 Cor. 10:13, No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” The same scripture in the Life Application Bible, “And no temptation is irresistible. You can trust God to keep the temptation from being so strong that you can’t stand up against it, for He has promised this and will do what He says. He will show you how to escape temptation’s power so that you can bear up patiently against it.”
There are many other scriptures which command us to stand firm. When you have time, check them out and be encouraged.
We hear the phrase, “cut and run” often these days on the news - referring to pulling out of Iraq. In actual fact, often we, too, feel there is nothing to do but “cut and run” when we walk through difficult places, but for the GRACE of God, we can “stand firm”. What are you facing today? His grace is, not just sufficient, but more than enough. May He give you strength to stand today.
Posted by Naida
This thought led me to search out scriptures about standing. There are many throughout the Word. More than half of them use the phrase “stand firm”. I am sure, however, that we cannot stand firm against all the things we face in the run of our lives, outside the grace of God.
Let’s look at some of the scriptures I looked up:
Ex. 14: 13, 14. “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.”
Almost the same words are in 2 Chron 20:17, “... stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you ... the Lord will be with you.”
One time when I was under an unfair burden of criticism, a pastor friend pointed me to the scripture in Rom 14:4, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Of course, our master is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ - we stand for Him alone. We need to stand firm - in what we believe, and in whom we believe. Easier to say than do some days, but for His great grace ...
A encouraging word in Ps 40:2 says, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Can’t get much firmer a place to stand than standing on the ROCK.
1 Cor. 15:58 tells us, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you ...” There are many other scriptures that tell us to stand firm - the last one I will include here is the well known one in 1 Cor. 10:13, No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” The same scripture in the Life Application Bible, “And no temptation is irresistible. You can trust God to keep the temptation from being so strong that you can’t stand up against it, for He has promised this and will do what He says. He will show you how to escape temptation’s power so that you can bear up patiently against it.”
There are many other scriptures which command us to stand firm. When you have time, check them out and be encouraged.
We hear the phrase, “cut and run” often these days on the news - referring to pulling out of Iraq. In actual fact, often we, too, feel there is nothing to do but “cut and run” when we walk through difficult places, but for the GRACE of God, we can “stand firm”. What are you facing today? His grace is, not just sufficient, but more than enough. May He give you strength to stand today.
Posted by Naida
posted by Randall | 1:59 p.m.
2 Comments:
Hey Naida, that was very well put, and definitely a word we all need to hear! God Bless you and Uncle Randall as you continue to share His word. Blessings!
Stand Firm… That is the message for this day and till the Lord comes.
I’ve often thought on this matter, but your written thoughts and the scriptures you presented have brought it to light again; so much so that I would like to develop it into a sermon for the village where I preach in the Philippines.
In this day when preachers seem to fall on a daily basis you have to wonder…how firm of a foundation were they standing or built on?
I know we are all prone to sin…so… how solid is OUR foundation, are we firmly planted on the SOLID ROCK CHRIST JESUS, (food for thought).
Thank you Naida and Randall for your obedience for doing what you do, it’s a blessing…
Dale
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