REMINDER - Stand Up or Fall

[ Judgment for Disobedience ] “My people bend their tongues like bows to shoot out lies. They refuse to stand up for the truth. They only go from bad to worse. They do not know me,” says the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:3 NLT

At the end of August, I'm thinking about Fall. It's my favorite season. However, in Texas, we don't really call it Fall. Here it's known as Lesser Summer... and we are grateful for it. Although lately there hasn't been anything "lesser" about the temperatures.

Nevertheless, people love to mark the seasons. In the U.S., Fall is most appreciated on the East Coast and in the Midwest. The trees are extraordinary with colors you have to see to believe. The photographs - no matter how good they are - just can't quite capture the first-hand experience. It is worth every penny to make that trip at least once in your lifetime.

As the news was abuzz with the change of seasons, I just kept thinking about Fall, which led me to think about The Fall. You know, Mankind's Fall. There's an old song from the 80's we used to sing that part of the lyric is: "If you don't stand up for what is right, you're going to fall for anything." As I contemplated that line, I realized the depth of the Truth in it.

When we make a stand for or against something, there is a determination in our stance. Our feet are planted more squarely, our body braced, our muscles tensed for action to combat the opposition. If we don't stand up for what we know to be right - what we know to be Truth - then we have no courage or strength born of conviction to withstand the onslaught against us and we will fall... again.

I love Ephesians 6:13-14a in the King James or the New King James: "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth..." 

We will not fall if we take up the whole armor of God.

It's our choice: Stand up or fall.

Prayer:

Father,
           I don't want to be knocked down to make me look up. I look to You now for strength born of conviction to walk in Your Truth. We know Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and we want to follow Him and worship You in Truth. Help us, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Lesser Summer

[ Judgment for Disobedience ] “My people bend their tongues like bows to shoot out lies. They refuse to stand up for the truth. They only go from bad to worse. They do not know me,” says the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:3 NLT

At the end of August, I'm thinking about Fall. It's my favorite season. However, here in Texas, we don't really call it Fall. Here it's known as Lesser Summer... and we are grateful for it. However, people love to mark the seasons. In the U.S., Fall is most appreciated on the East Coast and in the Midwest. The trees are extraordinary with colors you have to see to believe. The pictures - no matter how good they are - just can't quite capture the first-hand experience. It is worth every penny to make that trip at least once in your lifetime.

As the news was abuzz with the change of seasons, I just kept thinking about Fall, which led me to thinking about The Fall. You know, Mankind's fall. There's an old song from the 80's we used to sing that part of the lyric was, "If you don't stand up for what is right, you're going to fall for anything." As I contemplated that line, I realized the depth of the Truth in it.

When we make a stand for or against something, there is a determination in our stance. Our feet are planted more squarely, our body braced, our muscles tensed for action to combat the opposition. If we don't stand up for what we know to be right - what we know to be Truth, then we have no courage or strength born of conviction to withstand the onslaught against us and so we will fall... again.

I love Ephesians 6:13-14a in the King James or the New King James:
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth... We will not fall if we take up the whole armor of God.

It's our choice: Stand up or fall.

Prayer:

Father,
          I don't want to be knocked down to make me look up. I look to You now for strength born of conviction to walk in Your Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and we want to follow Him and worship You in Truth. Help us, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

What Are You For?

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

John 13:34-35 NLT

There are some great organizations that have been founded in order to give Christians a voice - in the world, in politics, in the workplace. Most are aware of the Christian stand against sexual immorality and pornography and same-sex marriage and abortion, etc. These are all battle-worthy. We win some and we lose some, but at least we're fighting. I will stand and beat the drum in a call to battle, I will fight, I will fund Godly endeavors that line up with the Word of God.

The world is well aware of what we as Christians are against. The point we may be missing is do they know what we are for? King James reads this way; By this ALL WILL KNOW that you are My disciples, if you HAVE LOVE FOR one another (emphasis mine). The question in my mind today is not whether those around me know I am a Christian, but rather HOW do they know? What reasons would THEY give for telling someone they know I am a Christian. Is it because I have love / shown love FOR them or because of what I stand against?

Prayer:

Father,

          Our hearts cry out to be free from distrust. Teach us to love You as You desire to be loved and teach us to love each other with a holy love like You do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen