The Bible for Women

Weekly Devotional

Stand Firm

"A man of courage is also full of faith." Cicero

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend one of the

Lads to Leaders and Leaderettes conventions with my daughter. The theme this year was "Be on the alert, stand firm in your faith." I thought, how much more of an encouragement for people to stand firm in their faith than to be with a couple thousand Christians together for a common purpose. As I looked around the large room full of Christians throughout the weekend, cheering together for each other's accomplishments, singing praises during worship, I thought,"This is only a very tiny piece of what Heaven will be like. Only a tiny piece." One of the ways we will get to heaven is by standing firm in our faith. Once we make that ever so important decision to confess Christ and put Him on in baptism, we still have work to do. We must share that faith with others and stand firm. We must also be on the alert. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

Ladies, there are so many ways that the devil wants to gain a foothold (Ephesians 4:27). That is all he needs to turn us against each other and keep us from being unified. That is what he wants. The devil loves to see division and quarrels among those in the church. He is very good and helping us to believe untruths. He is very good at letting us talk ourselves into treating others unkindly. He thrives off an unforgiving heart. He is successful at making our hearts cold. He laughs as we gossip. We must recognize that our anger toward others, our apathy in the church, our lack of involvement in the church, our selfishness, our willingness to participate in sinful things, our cowardess in standing up Jesus are all works of Satan- not works of God. All Satan needs is a foothold. All he needs is one unkind word, one piece of gossip, one stone thrown, one person not standing firm in the faith. Then he is in and it is so difficult to make him leave-unless we stand together. Romans 8:28 states,"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

God will help us suceed. Faith is described by the Hebrew writer in Hebrews 11:1,"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." If we stand firm on this, then we know and believe God will deliver us from the hand of Satan.

Let's make a commitment to ourselves, to Christ, to the church that we will not let the devil gain a foothold. Let's commit to loving each other, forgiving each other and working together to stand firm in our faith. In Hebrews 11:40, the writer states, "God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."

We may not see the rewards for our efforts now, but be sure that we will. And how glorious it will be the day that we can look upon the face of our Father and what a blessed day it will be when we see our Savior coming out of the clouds to take us to that great reward. Think: How marvelous to spend eternity with those who have been called, sinners- whose sins were as scarlet, but made white as snow. Don't you long to hear the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Choose to stand firm in your faith.

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

I love you. Have a blessed week. Margie