Our Part Is To Stand

December 7

Real faith stands. Yes. Real faith stands. It isn’t shaken by adverse winds. You can’t argue real faith away. You can’t vote real faith away. You can’t legislate real faith away. You can’t discourage real faith away. You can’t rationalize real faith away. You can’t torture real faith away. Real faith stands.

Ask Moses who was willing to suffer with the people of God rather than enjoy the pleasures of Egypt for a season (Hebrews 11:25). Ask Paul who was willing to relinquish the esteem of his nation in order to propagate the gospel under great persecution (Philippians 3:4-9).

Ask anyone who has placed faith in Christ at the pinnacle of his life and he will affirm that abiding in Him is worth the cost. And, there will be cost. Everyone who takes the yoke of the Lord upon himself gives something up—but gains so much more. One thing that will be notably discerned as part of what must be let go, is the esteem of ones fellows. Many people will consider the believer to have taken leave of his senses.

To dispute with those who do not believe is to abdicate the high ground of faith. Mark 9:14-19 tells us what Jesus said to His disciples when they found themselves arguing with doubters: “What are you arguing about...O, faithless generation! How long shall I suffer you?” It is apparent here that to engage in argumentation is to diminish the believer’s faith and his power to do what Jesus has sent him to accomplish. Jesus expects His followers to stand!

And yet, we are admonished to give a defense for the truth that we believe. I Peter 3:15 tells us that we must always be prepared to explain our hope to those who do not share it. There is obviously a thin line between arguing for the sake of itself and defending our faith against all detractors. Our part may be to attend so fully to the whisper of the Holy Spirit within us that in every circumstance, we will know when to speak and when to be silent.

In fact, James 1:19 admonishes people of faith to be "quick to listen and slow to speak." This indicates that God prefers that we endeavor to understand where an opponent is coming from regarding his opposition to the Gospel rather than to attempt to persuade him to ours. This suggests that perhaps our part is to pray for the unbeliever rather than to try to convince him...thereby letting the Holy Spirit do His work.

It is not always easy to, "Be still and know that I am God," Psalm 46:10. It is our nature to want to do something, to take care of matters on our own. But that is not what we're called to do. It is our portion to be available to do whatever the Lord places before us to accomplish for His Kingdom's purposes. It is our part to stand in real faith!