Stand firm

This was written one year ago...

I want to share some of the things that came to my thoughts this Sabbath day. I came to church, and God answered my prayers. It was a very Godly and inspiring church service. First he blessed me with uplifting songs. And then a couple of people shared some events from last week, in their walk with God. Very interesting! By the way, I love to hear testimonies. I think we should have more of that in church.
The speech was about to have roots, that we have to have strong roots in our walk with God.
Where do you have your foundation stones? Are they built on what they should be built on? Do you have enough strong roots to stay firm in the Lord?

God is telling us in His word, that it is so important to stand firm to Him and his word if you want Him to be in control in your life.

"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all'" (Isaiah 7:9)

"...but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. " (Matthew 24:13)

I think that we all can learn something from these verses. We have to do what it takes not to do our will but Gods will. We will be exposed to temptations and testing, and in situations like this, we have to stand firm to Gods word. We cannot stand firm if we are not close to God.

Jesus talks about the importance of standing firm in the parable of the sower (Luke 8)

⁵A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. ⁶And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. ⁷And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. ⁸And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

In verse 11, Jesus explains the parable:
¹¹Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹²Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. ¹³They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. ¹⁴And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. ¹⁵But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

God is telling us to be on our guard, that we first of all have to receive the word by hearing, make a strong root, that needs water to bring forth fruit with patience. He warn us to fell among the thorns and choke with cares and riches and pleasures of this life.
It is so easy to focus on the things in this world, but Jesus tells us that be shouldn’t do that.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1Jo 2:15)”

This is so clear, but difficult. But if we stay firm in Him it is easy. We have to became doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving our own selves (James 1:22)

"By standing firm you will gain life. " (Luke 21:19)

I will close with these verses:

"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings…" (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.(1 Thessalonians 3:8)

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! (1 Corinthians 10:12)

May God bless you!

Christian