Stand Firm

“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken Word or by our letter.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

We, as believers in Christ, have been chosen by God to be a part of His family, His kingdom. Day by day, may it be our desire to stand firm in the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. May we hold fast to the Word of God, the true standard for faith and life. May we cling to the things that we have been taught so that we are not blown around by the shifting winds of the culture in which we live.

The world desires that we do not stand firm. The world would rather that we do not cling to the Word of God as our absolute standard. By holding to a standard, any standard, we are standing in opposition to the ever changing ‘standards’ of the world. It puts us in direct opposition to the culture and the belief system of that culture.

Day by day we are more and more out of touch and out of sync with the world. We are aliens and strangers here. We are out of place. We don’t fit in. Fit in with the world, that is. But that is ok because we are a part of something greater.

As we strive in our faith, clinging to the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we find ourselves fitting in more and more into that kingdom that will never end. We find ourselves more and more comfortable, and blessed, and at peace, because we know in whom we have believed.

May God give you comfort and give you hope this week. May you rest in him as you stand firm in contrast with the ever-shifting world.