Stand

 

Stand

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Job 2;2 “And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”

     What if you met a ‘rattler in the grass.  All coiled up and ready to strike.  A movement right or left and he may take your shin.  Even a slow retreat may get the snake stretched out full length with its fangs embedded in your flesh.  The best defense? Stand.  Stare the thing down.  It will finally retreat.

     Oh, we have grand imaginations of our confrontations with the evil one of old.  We don our armor, head out into battle, and knock the enemy down like David and his Goliath.  But it’s usually not like that.  We walk the hike of the day and get startled.  The sudden “hiss” causes us to freeze in our tracks.  Upon seeing the one prepared for harm, we quickly assess our vulnerability.  The “Press to Test” button is pushed as we weigh our position and determine the flight or fight option, but there is one more.

     God commands us to stand.  As I heard a man say the other day, the suit of armor does the fighting.  In other words, we do not resist in our own strength.  However, it is up to us to wear it.  If we indeed are prepared, fear will not penetrate His suit.  When taken by surprise, we will not jerk like a knee reflex.  A sober mind will calculate the needed action.

     He again calls us to stand.  He fought for the Israelites.  He just asked them to show up for battle.  In those other times, when the fight is anticipated or scheduled, He still promises to go with us.

     What if we fly that flag?  What if we bear our cross?  This suit of armor is colorful and identifies us as holy.  It is into battle we take God’s standard of righteousness.  We are called to preserve this world by slowing her decay.

     What do these stands look like?  It may be the kind word at the checkout line.  When conversation goes cross, a certain uplifting word can steer upward.  Perhaps not participating in shop gossip, but being resolved to speak evil of no man. What about turning the channel so little eyes do not see violence?  It is important to note, when we elect to stand, someone may be standing behind us.  We stand for the weaker ones.

     We could consider these little snakes, but they are most venomous.  Little nips we can brush off, but the poison concentrates unless we confront their fangs.  Attacks throughout the day as the world, flesh, and devil take their hits.  It can wear us down.  That is why He has given us supernatural power to resist and stand.

     This world is corrupt.  The days are evil.  We are to hate this life and love Him more. We are to stand and even to stand up.

     Arise!  Stand!  Sons and daughters.  Fight in the trenches of the everyday courses. Show His standard as light even to those that are perishing.

 

                                                     

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