How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalms 119:9-16 (NIV)
Truth is as timeless as God Himself. And God’s Truth never changes – we can stand firm in it – no matter what our world may scream. Indeed, Paul writes of Epaphras’ prayers for the saints in Colosse in Colossians 4:12 (NIV): “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” To be sure, as believers in sweet Jesus, it is unworthy of us not to stand firm and fast in His Truth. God’s Word is eternal and we are not to take it lightly. Every Word is precious. Truth is not an option rather a fact.
It is disgraceful thing for His saints to expose the Name of God to reproach by going against His Word simply to save ourselves from scorn or temporal loss. And He has given us all the armor we need to stand firm in faithfulness – triumphing over Satan’s wily ways through the crosses of our particular circumstances. Denial of self is a given for every child of the King. We must understand this. Yet God will be no man’s debtor. Always better to be brave for God than to be known for your cowardice or treachery against Him. Satan runs and recoils at faith in God’s Word. He is a cowardly enemy though shrewd and he trembles at our faith. It is discouraging to him to find a soul awake to oppose him. We resist him through God’s mighty Word. It is our sword and faith our shield.
God’s Word grabs our hearts and changes us from the inside out. His Truth will set us free – from ourselves and from the bondage of sin and death. God’s Word brings to light our transgressions. It always begins with the heart – and our hearts can be self-deluded, Amen? We are to ask God to search our hearts and point out what makes Him sad and breaks our relationship with Him and equip us to change through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit.
God soothes with His promises and protection – His eyes are ever on us for our good as He guards, sustains, protects and blesses us. And He has given us His Word to stand firm in His Truth.
It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:3-4 (NIV)