Thursday, October 3, 2013
Romans 10:11 Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.
TESTED OR TEMPTED? STAND UP FOR JESUS!
How many movies could you think of that have someone standing up to a bully or taking a stand against the bad guys? Taking a stand is similar to making a statement or confession as to what you believe to be true or right. But to what degree would you be willing to do that? You might think of just as many movies that show a defection to the opposite side -- a traitor, a betrayer, someone who is not loyal. Doesn't this open up a huge range of categories?
As much as we would like to be the one to take a stand against "the bad guys" (devil, world, our own sinful flesh), don't we daily find ourselves defecting to their side and disobeying God's Word and will for our lives?
Our confession rests on statements that believe we are truly sinful and are enemies of God apart from Christ. But we also confess to stand with Christ, that we believe in Him, and are willing to follow Him in view of His merciful forgiveness. But to what point? THAT is the testing of our faith in which we always need the Lord's strength!
Strength in Christ, much like normal exercise strength training, comes from the exercise of reading and hearing His Word! "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame' (Romans 10:8-11).
May God encourage you to continue today, tomorrow, and each new day in exercising and the building up of your strength in Him, as you dig deeper into the truths of our Almighty God's Word!
