A
reminder for today
Stand Your Ground
Three times Paul urges his readers to “stand” with the
armor. An army is no better than its discipline; without it they are doomed. It
is time that we, as God’s soldiers, stop simply discussing His commands and
begin obeying them. “Fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). If
we don’t stand for something, we will fall for anything.
During a fierce Civil War battle, one Union company was fighting under a hail of bullets to take a strategic hill from the Confederacy. After making progress halfway up the hill, the weary soldiers became discouraged by the constant barrage and began to retreat back down the hill. Then they noticed that their standard bearer, who carried the company flag, refused to fall back. A standard bearer’s job was to hold the flag over the territory occupied by his army. “Bring the standard down to us,” shouted the young man’s cohorts. But despite the fact that cannons were exploding all around him, this courageous soldier was unwilling to yield an inch. He called back: “No! You come up to where the standard is.” Inspired by the bravery of their comrade, the Yankees renewed their efforts and took the hill.
Too many of God’s soldiers are fraternizing with the enemy and trying to reach the world by bringing the standards of the church down to its level. God is calling us to bravely come up to His standard.
One of King David’s mighty men was named Eleazar. He became famous when the army of Israel retreated and fled from the enemy because he stood his ground by David’s side, and the two of them fought back to back until they had defeated the Philistine force (1 Chronicles 11:12–14; 2 Samuel 23:9).
When everyone else retreats, we must hold the line. If you were baptized, you made a promise to God, and the force of that commitment has not diminished at all over time. When you enlisted in God’s army, you promised to work in and attend the church, return your tithe, dress modestly, eat and drink to the glory of God, and care for your body temple. God calls you to be extraordinary and different—to stand firm in a world of gutless wonders. If you’ve been tempted to retreat, turn around and come back up to His standard.
During a fierce Civil War battle, one Union company was fighting under a hail of bullets to take a strategic hill from the Confederacy. After making progress halfway up the hill, the weary soldiers became discouraged by the constant barrage and began to retreat back down the hill. Then they noticed that their standard bearer, who carried the company flag, refused to fall back. A standard bearer’s job was to hold the flag over the territory occupied by his army. “Bring the standard down to us,” shouted the young man’s cohorts. But despite the fact that cannons were exploding all around him, this courageous soldier was unwilling to yield an inch. He called back: “No! You come up to where the standard is.” Inspired by the bravery of their comrade, the Yankees renewed their efforts and took the hill.
Too many of God’s soldiers are fraternizing with the enemy and trying to reach the world by bringing the standards of the church down to its level. God is calling us to bravely come up to His standard.
One of King David’s mighty men was named Eleazar. He became famous when the army of Israel retreated and fled from the enemy because he stood his ground by David’s side, and the two of them fought back to back until they had defeated the Philistine force (1 Chronicles 11:12–14; 2 Samuel 23:9).
When everyone else retreats, we must hold the line. If you were baptized, you made a promise to God, and the force of that commitment has not diminished at all over time. When you enlisted in God’s army, you promised to work in and attend the church, return your tithe, dress modestly, eat and drink to the glory of God, and care for your body temple. God calls you to be extraordinary and different—to stand firm in a world of gutless wonders. If you’ve been tempted to retreat, turn around and come back up to His standard.
In closing, I want to assure you that although we are in
a war, we need not fear. God’s Word tells us how the battle will end and who
will be the final victor. The One who forged our armor guarantees its
effectiveness and promises that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it” (Matthew 16:18).
How can we stand? How can we fight? Paul gives us the answer in the beginning of our passage. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). Jesus said, “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). But we are also assured, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).
In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul asks, “Who ever goes to war at his own expense?” (1 Corinthians 9:7, NKJV). God pays the bill for the entire arsenal. All that we need was purchased at Calvary with the blood of His own dear Son. Just as Jonathan so loved David that he gave him his armor, sword, robe and indeed his very throne (1 Samuel 18:3, 4), so Jesus gives us all we need to be assured of total and final victory.
Till then, we’ll fight for the day when “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4).
How can we stand? How can we fight? Paul gives us the answer in the beginning of our passage. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). Jesus said, “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). But we are also assured, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).
In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul asks, “Who ever goes to war at his own expense?” (1 Corinthians 9:7, NKJV). God pays the bill for the entire arsenal. All that we need was purchased at Calvary with the blood of His own dear Son. Just as Jonathan so loved David that he gave him his armor, sword, robe and indeed his very throne (1 Samuel 18:3, 4), so Jesus gives us all we need to be assured of total and final victory.
Till then, we’ll fight for the day when “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4).
Have and awesome day dear friend of Jesus
Cheers
