Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
steadfast:
- fixed in direction; steadily directed.
- firm in purpose, resolution, or faith.
- unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence.
- firmly established
- firmly fixed in place or position.
As Christians, we are called to be and remain steadfast. This is not to say that we are supposed to be stubborn, rigid and so “fixed in our ways” that we don’t allow a move of the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us. What this is saying is that we are to remain steady in our walk with the Lord. We are to remain firm in Jesus and firmly established in His Word. We are to have faith beyond measure, beyond what our eyes can see, beyond what is happening in our immediate circumstances. Hebrews 11:1 states, now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Whether you are a Christian or not, many outside forces will come. Sometimes a small breeze will try and ruffle your feathers or sometimes a hurricane storm will completely blindside, knock you down and try to destroy you. However, as Christians, we not only have tools to navigate the storms of life, but an inner peace within our hearts that God has promised to us.
In John 16:32-33, Jesus is talking to his disciples before he is about to be taken to the cross. He states, a time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Prior to Jesus’ promise to bring peace, he speaks of grief and joy. He states, very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world (John 16: 20-21).
No matter what is happening, if you are obedient to the Lord, He will have your back. If it appears that people in your life keep letting you down, rejecting you, opposing you or are blatantly turning their back on you for choosing God first, then say with confidence, the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? (Hebrews 13:6).
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).
We must keep our eyes on the prize. We must remember why we are Christians. We must stand our post and remain in place. When you are flying in an airplane, and there is a bout of turbulence, the pilot tells everyone to stay in their seat. When a storm came upon Jesus and the disciples, and the waves began to overcome the boat, the disciples were freaking out while Jesus remained steadfast and at peace. (Mark 4:35-41).
When a young child begins to throw a tantrum, are you going to give in even though you know it’s wrong or remain steadfast and consistent? Do you want to be a leaf that easily flies away, and never lands anywhere every time a windy current comes along? Or do you want to be a rooted tree, firmly established throughout time, able to withstand various seasonal shifts and able to bear beautiful flowers and edible, nourishing fruit?
Ephesians 4:14-15 states, Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is Christ.
Are you able to speak up for your faith? Or do you change what you believe depending on who you are surrounded by? Are you firm and steadfast in the Lord? If someone tries to take you down an ungodly path, are you able to decline the offer?
If you have been wishy washy, tossed around and not really landing anywhere, now is the time to put a stake in the ground. Now is the time to declare that not only is Jesus my Lord and Savior, but now I am actually going to act like He is! You can’t say that you’re a Christian, then behave like everyone else in the world. If you have been saved, if you are a born-again, if you are a son or daughter of the most high King Jesus, then do your part and be the child God has created you to be. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please contact me.
Remain steadfast!
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:5).
savor with me 