STAND FIRM

 

Looking back over the years of my walk with Christ, I marvel at the faithfulness of God. I'm so thankful for the grace He has given me to stand firm in the midst of immense challenges.

There are countless others who don't have the same story. Many strong, faithful followers of Christ become burned out, overwhelmed and discouraged. More often than not, they end up being crushed by difficulties that this life has to offer. 

There's often 2 questions that come to mind:

“How did I make it when so many others didn’t?”

and...

“What kept me going?”

Hebrews 10 has always brought hope and encouragement to my heart in this area.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. 

Hebrews 10:23-25

This scripture gives us a framework for how to stand firm in our walk with Christ, broken into 3 steps: 

1. Hold fast to the confession of your hope without wavering

An important question to ask is "what is the confession of our hope?"

The confession of our hope is the simple truth of the Gospel.

Jesus died for sinners, He rose from the dead, and He is coming back to rule and reign.

That is good news!

It can be easy to allow discouragement to avert our eyes from the truth of what He has accomplished. 

We need to return to our first love (Revelation 2:4).

To take action on this, I encourage you to allow the Lord to show you any areas where your heart has become cold or complacent.

If there are areas where that is the case, simply repent and come back into alignment with His heart.

As you walk forward with Him, resolve to not be moved by anything.

2. Spur one another on toward love and good deeds

There are countless believers that are walking deeply discouraged, with a "faith" that is on the verge of shipwreck.

Many people carry deep wounds from the words that others have spoken to them.

Now more than ever, Christians desperately need to be encouraged in their gifts and calling.

When we turn our efforts and attention towards encouraging others, our focus no longer is on ourselves, and we are then able to see the treasure that is inside of each person (Jeremiah 15:19). 

3. Don’t forsake assembling together

Wherever you find yourself politically, theologically, etc... there’s no question that the enemy has been doing whatever he can to prevent believers from coming together.

It's because we are dangerous to the Kingdom of darkness when we walk together in unity.

For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭20‬ ‭

This is about more than just “doing church”. He is actually with us in our midst as we gather together. 

That's amazing!

The truth is that we need to be in fellowship with other Christians on a regular basis, regardless of whether you fully agree on everything or not.

Would we be willing to put aside our differences with one another for the sake of His Kingdom? 

It is worth it.

 

There will likely be challenges and obstacles that get thrown at you in your walk with Christ. This life is full of them...

but...

there truly is no better place to be than in the center of the Father's will.

You have only just seen the beginning of what He has in store for you!

Stand firm.