Your Reason to Stand Firm
Philippians 3:20-4:1 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. (ESV)
Our enemy, the devil, seems to have found so many ways to attack our faith. Be it through temptation, persecution or simply the subtle social influences in which we find ourselves immersed, dragging us inexorably off course. However he’s working in your life, make no mistake. You are under spiritual attack.
Yesterday we saw that if you believe in Jesus, your citizenship is in heaven, which means that you are merely a sojourner on this earth, your final destination being eternity in God’s Presence. That sheds a whole different light on our lives here and now.
Let’s look at that passage again, but this time, we’re going to add a verse:
Philippians 3:20-4:1 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. (ESV)
And what the writer, Paul, is saying here is that because Jesus is coming back to take us home, because we have an eternity ahead of us in His Presence – because of that powerful, eternal, undeniable truth – we should stand firm in Christ.
Stand firm against what? Against temptation, against persecution, against the subtle, sinful influences of the culture around us. Because the devil does indeed want to draw you off track and rob you of your inheritance.
So listen up, because of what lies ahead, because Jesus is getting ready at some point to lead you home to the place He’s prepared for you, stand firm. I’ll say it again. Stand firm in Christ.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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