by David Brenneman
The truth of God is not partial to anyone.
The truth of God isn't going to appease anyone.
The truth of God is what?
"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12.
Do you really consider this verse?
Does what it say resonate within you?
Before you even have a thought...Jesus knows what it will be.
Before that thought that hasn't existed yet comes into being...Jesus knows your exact intention behind it.
We aren't to be doormats in this world. We, as Christians, aren't to just allow people to wipe their feet on us. Jesus stood in the truth because He was and is the Truth. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
When you are considering the things you have in front of you today. Is Jesus present in them? Whether or not you see it, He is. He was in your today before your today was formed. We exist in this thing called time, He does not. Only for 33 plus years did Jesus step into time to be with us. To live a sinless life, to be crucified for every single sin of every single person who would ever be conceived. I used to say for every single person who has ever lived but the truth of the brutality of Satan is countless billions of people have been murdered throughout the centuries who never got the chance to live.
There used to be a country song that went along the lines of "you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything...".
There's no coasting through this life.
There's no coming to Christ in all seriousness and not facing conflict.
There's no person who has come to Christ for salvation who hasn't faced Satan's minions or been challenged by his or her sin nature to live for self.
There's been none who have lived a life to its fullest potential apart from a life in Christ.
It's not easy standing alone, but sometimes, that's what you have to do.
The only one who's approval you require is that of the Lord Jesus Christ...no matter what others may have to say about it.
Paul, when he was Saul, was one of the greatest persecutors of the Church. After salvation, become one of its greatest teachers of it. He gave a litany of experiences that he went through in living life for Jesus.
Standing on the truth of God cost him greatly but he wouldn't trade it for anything.
We aren't here for self anymore than Paul or the other's in Christ were whom we read about. We are given a list of people in what has been called the Faith Chapter. Forty verses in Hebrews 11.
It's truth that we must stand in. God's truth cannot be thwarted by Satan or his minions. Scripturally speaking he is a defeated foe. Beaten. But too, he's an exceptionally sore loser. He is also something that you probably aren't expecting to read about. He's a tool of the Spirit to teach people. The Spirit uses him and his minions to help people grow in Christ in spite of his attempts to prevent such things. Satan's on a leash in the world's way to say it. He cannot break the Word of God. He must always obey what God has said. He cannot touch those whom belong to Christ without permission and never beyond the limits permitted.
Standing in the truth of God is vital to growing in Christ. The world will mock, ridicule, harass, and try to intimidate you for doing so. It will also tempt, try to sway, try to deceive you into indulging into sins or sinful actions to be a stumbling block to growing in Christ. Dividing your attention between the supposed joys of things in this world and the joys of serving and growing in Christ.
First, be sure of your salvation in Christ Jesus. Secondly, be firm in your desire to grow in Christ. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. We aren't our own, we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. In the modern parlance we owe Him everything. As more than a few songs remind us, He died for me, I'll live for Him.
Be prepared for things to happen to try to get to you. Both the subtle ways and the things not so in your face. You will be tempted to compromise. To think this or that isn't so bad.
Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Galatians 5:16.
Temptation isn't going to have flags to warn you about what they are.
Be in the Word of God daily, intentionally.
It's the only place to discover what truth you are supposed to be living in.
It's time for all who are in Christ to be standing firm.
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