Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©
If you do not stand firm in your faith,
you will not stand at all
(Isaiah 7:9b (NIV))
I find myself trying to avoid this, but, I seem to be regressing to my high school English class. I find myself in a battle trying to avoid diagramming this sentence, especially the verb and adverb combination found in the words “stand firm.” Typically, when you see the word “stand,” you do not think of an action verb, after all, we do not associate action with standing. However, in this particular case, it is an action verb. We cannot be passive in our faith.
We are responsible for our actions. This is also true of our faith actions.
One of my all time favorite quotes is from a man named Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
“Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of the few church leaders who stood in courageous opposition to the Fuehrer and his policies”* during World War II. *(http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/bonhoeffer/)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer stated that, “Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.” I sincerely believe this to be true. In fact, I have this quote at a prominent place on my computer so that I see it every time I sit down to spend time in God’s Word.
We can read and know what is right. We can study and recite what we know to be true. We can quote scripture and put on a good appearance, but, if we do not stand firm in our faith and put it into action, we fail. We must recognize that sharing the Gospel is our responsibility. If we do not do it, then it will not get done. Jesus left us that task. It is our action that may determine the salvation of someone else. It is our willingness to stand firm in our faith that may keep us from faltering. It is our responsibility!
Responsibility requires action. We cannot simply stand and allow the world to happen to us. We must stand firm. We must accept our responsibility to stand firm in our faith in Jesus.
How do you stand? Are you active or passive?
Copyright 1998 – 2010 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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