Will We Stand?
- It’s so easy to STAND and proclaim in church.
- It’s also so easy to STAND and proclaim in the comfort of our homes.
- It’s 100% easy, when others STAND with us & beside us, when we are called upon to take a STAND.
- Yes, so, so easy to STAND when the world STANDS with us.
- And Yes, we can rise to our feet & STAND and raise our hands when we worship and praise our LORD.
- And Yes, we can surely STAND for Jesus when we’re not STANDING alone.
BUT
- How are we doing with the STAND we must take in the world?
- How are we doing when we must STAND and take a position to the difficult life-questions?
- Where do we STAND when the world “stands” against the teachings of Jesus? OR
- Where do we STAND when the world views our STAND as just “hokey,” “odd,” “old-fashioned” and downright “just weird”?
- Where do we STAND when it’s just so uncomfortable to STAND for what we believe?
- The yoke of Jesus will give us rest. We know this and have heard these words all of our lives, but do we really believe these words?
- The yoke of Jesus—ours to take—but when we take upon us—the yoke of Jesus—then, we choose to walk beside Jesus, linked together with Jesus, step-for-step, in harmony, on the life-journey beside our Savior, going where He leads, pulling the weight alongside Him as He carries the load with us.
When I was a child, both of my grandpas were alive, and at the age of eleven, we moved. It was then, that I began sharing more time with my grandparents who lived in Kentucky. However, until that moment, primarily, I shared more days (more time) with my grandparents who lived in Indiana. Even though both grandparents were initially from the same state, only the grandpa who lived in Kentucky continued to plow with a mule as he worked the fields, walking behind the plow. It was a sight that I began experiencing every spring as my grandpa worked his fields. My dad even returned to this “archaic” way of turning a field and cultivating a crop when we moved to KY (as I entered the sixth grade).
Today, as I think about a yoke (the burden) and the STAND Christians must take in the world, I think also of a certain Scripture passage. SEE IT WITH ME.
“At that time Jesus said,” [after Jesus had spoken about the miracles that occurred in the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida & about the judgment in the city of Sodom]
(Matthew 11: 25)
“I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.
Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.
All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
(Matthew 11: 25-27)
“You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.”
(verse 25)
- We learn from Jesus.
- We are instructed in His ways through His Word.
As God’s children, (infants born into the Kingdom of God) we have received the hidden things, the mystery, the things we cannot see with our physical eyes but with our spiritual eyes.
Jesus said—
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.’”
(Matthew 11: 28-30)
Consider for a moment the lyrics of the beautiful melody by the Newsboys titled—“STAND.”
“What kind of heart do I have in my chest?
Does it beat for my Savior or just for my flesh?
What will I do in the moment that everything falls?
I’m gonna’ stand in a world that’s breaking
Stand for a truth unchangin’
I’m not ashamed, I’ve considered the cost
I’ll stay right here at the foot of the cross
And stand
They can call me a fool
Or stubborn for following You
For trusting without any proof. . . .
So what kind of person do I wanna’ be?
Am I committed to You or committed to me?
What will I choose the second that everything falls?
I’m gonna’ stand in a world that’s breaking
Stand for a truth unchangin’
I’m not ashamed, I’ve considered the cost
I’ll stay right here at the foot of the cross
And stand
Stand . . . .”
In the passage from the gospel of Matthew, it’s as if Jesus is saying to us—
“Come alongside me.
Connect yourself with me.
Can we do this life [the earthly life] together.
Yes! Yes, we can, for though the load may seem to be heavy, it is an easy burden because we will work together to pull the load.
As we pull together, going the same way, we will make it through to the other side [of the field of life].
As we pull together, the burden will remain light for you, because I Am there with you.
As we go together, I Am going to show you a better way.
As we go together, “YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.” (verse 29)
My way [Jesus’ Way] is “gentle and humble in heart,” and restful. (verse 29)
Come alongside Me [alongside Jesus].
Connect yourself with Me [alongside Jesus].
We can do this life together [Jesus and us].
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [from Jesus].”
Matthew 11: 29
ME—and You—We Together.
Jesus and Us—We Together.
The Holy Spirit and Us.
God and His Children—Us!”
It is one thing to read God’s Word, to understand it with our mind.
BUT
It’s another, totally more valuable life-lesson to live out God’s Word and walk by faith.
- Will We STAND with Jesus whenever the world “stands” for something contrary to the Bible?
- Will We STAND with Jesus?
Jesus Christ is not so concerned with our comfort level here (on earth), for He is more concerned with our sanctification (our spiritual growth).
WHY is that so? It is because Jesus is preparing us for the day we will go home to live forevermore in the presence of God!
- Should We STAND with Jesus?
- Should We take the yoke of Jesus and learn from Him?
Yes! Yes! I believe we should & Hopefully all believers, all Christians agree that we should learn from the Holy Spirit who will direct our every step of life as we walk alongside our Savior.