A Word from God
“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:2 /// “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;” 1 Cor. 15:1 /// “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Cor. 16:13 /// “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2Co_1:24 /// “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Gal. 5:1 /// “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” Phil. 1:27 /// “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Eph. 6:11 /// “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Eph. 6:13 /// “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;” Eph. 6;14 (bold added) /// “For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thess. 3:8
When God gave me the word “stand” one day as my spiritual manna for that day, I didn’t think much of it. Until I started digging in His Word to better understand what I thought I had already studied in the past to completion. But the Lord’s love is ever deeper, I find, and so is His Word when I feed hungrily on it and thirstily drink of His Spirt as He teaches me, convicts me, changes me, and grows me in His image.
Strong’s concordance says the Greek word translated to “stand fast” also means “be stationary” and “persevere”. Blue Letter Bible online says biblical usage for this is also “to stand firm, to persevere, to persist…” Strong’s says the Greek translated into “stand” also means “make firm”. God is not seeking a one-time repentance and profession of faith in Christ as Lord, but a lifelong way of life marked by learning in the strength of His Spirit to stand, be stationary, persevere, be firm in our faith in Christ, in the Gospel message, in God’s grace, in freedom through Christ, in unity with fellow followers in God’s Spirit, in resisting the danger and devastation of the devil, etc. This is a tall order, isn’t it? How can we do this? Breath by breath, in His love, His strength, His Word, with continual seeking Him, repenting, loving Him, worshiping Him, cleaving to Him. This way of life is a manifestation of an ever growing intimacy with Christ, a genuine devotion to God and His ways, and a heart on fire to chase after the Lord in steadfast commitment to live utterly for Him.