To stand firm means having clarity in the midst of the chaos. Every battle we face begins in our minds, and our choices. It does not matter what chaos is around us.
In order to have clarity, we have to have control of our thoughts. When we learn to take every thought captive and submit it to Jesus. We are only as free as our minds. We cannot be passive in this matter. It takes effort to engage in the war over our minds.
We are the gatekeepers of our minds, not God. We must be attentive to them. The thoughts we don’t take captive will hold us captive.
“Prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” -1 Peter 1:13
“Take every thought captive” -2 Corinthians 10:5. “Set your minds on things that are above, not things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2).
We can choose Jesus over selfishness. We have to make an intentional, daily choice to draw close to God. The reality is that we are either drawing closer to Him or further away.
Each of us are being shaped and molded by someone or something. Is it Jesus? Holiness means being totally dedicated to God. We are either all in or all out. There is no good in being lukewarm, or sitting on the fence. In Revelation 3:16 God it says,
So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold -I am about to vomit you out of my mouth.“
There is no way for us to live holy and set apart without the power of the Holy Spirit.
“As children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your annoyance, but just as He called you is Holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior, because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am Holy’”
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children” -Ephesians 5:1
Remember that this world is not our home. We must learn to choose Jesus over culture. Don’t be consumed by what the world thinks. As followers of Jesus, we are to conduct ourselves with reverence (fear) of God. I heard it said that “fear God is to be terrified of being away from Him.”
“And if you call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile” -1 Peter 1:17.
“The remarkable thing about God is that when we fear God, we fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you will fear everything else” -Oswald Chambers.
This one may be a tough one but choosing Jesus over family. I have a difficult time with this one. Today I would put my husband or children first in every circumstance. Right now my heart could not take. But I know there will come a time I will have to turn my allegiance completely to Jesus.
Sometimes theree can be a cost of relationship in order to fully live for Jesus.
When our allegiance is tied to what is or what was there can be clear tension in family relationships.
1 Peter 1:18-21 speaks of choosing Jesus over family.
“Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold. But with the, precious blood of Christ, like that of the lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
Choose Jesus over tribe. Do you know who your people were before you were saved? There may be unbelievers that you regularly interact with. But, our calling is to represent Jesus before them. When Jesus comes into our hearts, we learn how to love others rightly. All other people become ones whom we need to show the love of Jesus to.
1 Peter 1:22-23 tells us,
“Having purified your soul by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly (sisterly) love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding Word of God.”
I know people whom I don’t associate myself with too often, because they choose not to follow Jesus. They say they believe, but don’t live like they do. I love and pray for them and show them what it means to be a follower of Jesus, but I separate myself from their way of life..
It is only God’s will, Word, and work that will work permanently in our lives. We need to be people who find clarity in the Word of God (The Bible). We need to find our entire lives in the Word of God. Only His Word will last forever. Only His truth will prepare our minds to choose Him over all else. When truth rests in our hearts, we’ll live from one degree of freedom to another. Remember the good news that was preached to you and dig your roots into it.
1 Peter 1:24-25, (ESV)
“For all flesh is like grass and all glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the Word of the Lord remains forever. And this Word is good news that was preached to you.”
From Pity to Praise 