Standing firm

 4 Oct 25

Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion


Standing firm

Standing firm is not a way to be saved but the evidence that a person is really committed to Jesus. Endurance is not a means to earn salvation; it is a by-product of a truly devoted life. Endurance grows out of commitment to Jesus Christ. In Matthew 10:22, Jesus predicted that his followers would be severely persecuted by those who hated what he stood for. In the midst of terrible persecutions, however, they could have hope, knowing that salvation was theirs. Times of trial serve to sift true Christians from false or fair-weather Christians. When you are pressured to give up and turn your back on Christ, don't do it. Remember the benefits of standing firm and continue to live for Christ.


“Not that we Lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.”2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Reflections

Indeed it is by faith we stand firm. However I perhaps would not use the word benefits as a reason to stand firm and continue to live for Christ. Though if you really have to weigh it, I guess you can say that standing firm allows for us to be with our Father at the very end. The other spectrum is well known-the fiery hell. I would think to truly love Christ would be a better way to anchor ourselves in our faith.


For example, if we love our partners, we would be very willing to do a lot of things for them, without complaints. It will be done out of a willing heart. It is all done out of love. So even when crisis struck, for example if one falls out of work, even though life can get stressful, the couple will still be able to weather the storms together. Those who kind of leave the other when storms come, perhaps did not really have a strong foundation from the start. It’s the same for our relationship with Christ.


We love because He first love us. And the challenges or trials that come at us will test our relationship with Him. Would we leave Him like how the rest did when the priests come to capture Jesus? How much do we love Him? Standing firm is about not taking the easy way out (leaving Christ) but choose to stick with Him. There is likely no love if we left just because things happened. In Chinese, we say that this relationship is really 不堪一击(bu4 kan1 yi4 ji1), which translates to unable to withstand a single blow.


We hope none of us are like this or like the fair weather Christians. I pray that all of us will be able to stand firm till the very end out of our love for Him. Thank You Lord for Your love. ❤️ 

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