Stand for Something

Yesterday I went to the amazing production of Daniel by Sight and Sound in Lancaster, PA. It was worth the watch for sure. Take sometime to read about this Hebrew youth who found himself taken captive in a strange country and the struggles that come with being apologetically you in your faith walk. As he walked through the different seasons of life, he had to be intentional about the choices he made to stay true to his beliefs. Especially when the culture he was chosen to live in was less than Hebrew friendly.

As a person of faith, I am well aware that I occupy space in a ‘kingdom’ that is not Christ-centric. The voices in this current climate are loudly proclaiming their beliefs, often trying to diminishing yours. Daniel reminded me that God doesn’t require us to be popular, He does call us to be faithful. From where I’m sitting we often don’t give Him much, He deserves our faithfulness at least. Being true to the ways of God challenges us to stand for something. It’s easier to go with the flow, take a ride in a cruise ship and not ruffle any feathers. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that for believers.

I’ve found life invites us to engage in a series of well designed battles. Be comforted- many of these battles have already been won. We just need to follow Christ’s lead. He shows us how to navigate some of these mine fields. The ultimate battle is the one for our souls and that of our loved ones- especially our children. Ever so often we are called to engage life from battleships. We are called to ‘fight the good fight of faith’ (1 Timothy 6: 12). This involves making a choice to do life God’s way. Everyone wants to have a say in how we raise our children, do marriage, conduct our business affairs and in general live out our faith. Maturity in faith takes us to a place where we discerningly choose who gets a seat at the table where we make decisions. Not everyone gets a seat.

Like Daniel, we’ll find that God is faithful to those who choose to stand for His ways. He doesn’t need anyone to defend Him. He has been doing that before we were. Just stand! Be unapologetically faithful to the One who has been faithful to you through the years. This saying still has my vote: ‘If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.’

“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.”(Isaiah 30:18)