Stand for Something or Fall for Anything

Yesterday, thousands of Christian students across America participated in “See You At The Pole,” an event where they gather at their school’s flagpole before the start of the school day to pray for the community. I admire those who are willing to publicly identify themselves with Christ in this way. They will be watched, and when they do not live up to the expectations of their peers, they will hear about it.

Are you willing to let your world that you belong to Christ? It demands much more of us than wearing a cross necklace or putting a fish symbol on our car bumper. If we are His, then it follows that we will be holy, loving, and godly people.  Jesus said, “Stand up for me among the people you meet and the Son of Man will stand up for you before all God’s angels. But if you pretend you don’t know me, do you think I’ll defend you before God’s angels? “If you bad-mouth the Son of Man out of misunderstanding or ignorance, that can be overlooked. But if you’re knowingly attacking God himself, taking aim at the Holy Spirit, that won’t be overlooked." (Luke 12:8-10, The Message)

Standing for Christ is so much more than words! It's a way of life. Nothing is so beautiful as a person who walks in the Spirit, who has given himself totally to the service of Christ Jesus. There is a quality of character, a spiritual depth that is irrefutable proof of the reality of the Gospel’s power to transform. That man will never be perfectly sinless. There will be lapses, moments that are regrettable, choices that are inconsistent with his professed faith; but if he really belongs to Jesus, even in his failures, he will humbly acknowledge his hypocrisy because he knows the grace by which he stands.

I want to encourage you to some reflection today. If your friends wrote up a description of you, would they be required to note your love of Christ Jesus? Is your faith so intrinsic to your life that what you do cannot be understood without reference to the Lord's Presence?

Jesus told us that His wisdom is the foundation of every choice, the source of guidance to which we must turn. “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit-but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”
The Message (Mt 7:24-27)

Here’s a word from the Word. I hope that you can join the writer in making this offer to the people who are living life alongside of you. "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1, NIV) What a wonderful life!

We're pilgrims on the journey

Of the narrow road,

And those who've gone before us

Line the way.

Cheering on the faithful,

Encouraging the weary,

Their lives a stirring testament

To God's sustaining grace.

Surrounded by so great

A cloud of witnesses,

Let us run the race

Not only for the prize,

But as those who've gone before us.

Let us leave to those behind us,

The heritage of faithfulness

Passed on thru godly lives.

O may all who come behind us

Find us faithful,

May the fire of our devotion

Light their way.

May the footprints that we leave,

Lead them to believe,

And the lives we live

Inspire them to obey.

O may all who come behind us

Find us faithful.

Find Us Faithful

Mohr, Jon

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