Steadfastness: September 11, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2013.

STEADFASTNESS

DEFINITION:  

Firm and resolute in purpose, faith, adherence etc; unwavering.

SCRIPTURE:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 
I Corinthians 15:58.

For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
Colossians 2:5

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

One of our many concerns when we were raising our children was that we would be consistent in encouraging them to be steadfast (firm) in their faith in God. We alerted them often that their steadfastness would be expressed in their obedience to God’s Word which would govern the way they live. It is steadfastness of our faith in Christ that gets us through times of uncertainty.

Steadfastness is a difficult assignment in our world today. For young people there are many outside pressures and influences on them continually. Most of them are negative and if they are not resisted it is difficult for young people to remain steadfast in their Christian standards.

This is also true for parents and adults without children. Negative influences that many people dismiss as the norm because everyone is doing those things can tempt one to waver from their steadfastness in their beliefs.

In the first verse above, the apostle Paul was talking to the believers of Jesus in the church at Corinth. His words to them should be seriously taken by us today. He challenged them to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. If we live according to this challenge we will be a shining light in a dark world to all who know us. Paul closes out this verse by reminding them and us that when we are steadfast in our faith that our labor will not be in vain.

Although at times we may not see the results of our labor for the Lord, we should remain steadfast in our faith and not be discouraged because anything done for the Lord is never useless. God will reward us, you can be sure, and the reward we receive in heaven will be greater than anything we could obtain on this earth.

In the second verse above Paul is speaking to the believers in the church at Colossi. He hears that they are walking with the Lord and daily working on establishing their faith. So he is congratulating them for their steadfastness in remaining strong in their faith. Their unwavering faith caused the apostle Paul to rejoice.

Our desire as a believer should be to stay steadfast and strong in our faith so that we are a cause for our Lord to rejoice.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:7.

Do not be amazed that I said to you, you must be born again.

PRAYER:

Help me and my family to grow daily in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. May we be steadfast, firm and resolute in our stand for our Lord. We praise you for our salvation and the assurance we have, as one of your children, that we will spend eternity with You.