Living Our Lives in the Light of Jesus’ Second Coming: 5 Day Bible Plan With William Porter 预览

Day Four: Stay Standing

Jesus taught that entering the kingdom of God is finding life, peace, and joy in him; Christian faith is truly priceless and wonderful. However, he also said that there was a cost to a life of faith in him. The call to take up our cross and follow him will never be more truly felt than in the testing days of the end times. The Bible readings for today have a combined call for us to stand up for our faith, even when it is difficult, or even when the world is in trouble. Christians have been persecuted for their faith since the early church, but this persecution will increase the closer we get to Jesus' return. As the gospel goes out in the power of the Spirit around the world, it will be received by some and rejected by others. Our faith may be ridiculed by people close to us; we may even be called to defend ourselves publicly (Luke 21:12–13). Yet God will give us both the words and the strength (Luke 21:15) and, even if we pay the ultimate price for our witness, we will receive a glorious crown in heaven (Luke 21:18–19). In contrast, the flip side of having a strong faith in Jesus in the end times comes next: when everyone around us becomes fainting and fearful at the global shaking and troubles prophesied in the Bible (Luke 21:25–26), followers of Jesus can stand up and be joyful because we know his coming is very near (Luke 21:28). We have seen the signs and we know our redemption is at hand; we wait on tiptoe to welcome him as he comes on the clouds of heaven (Luke 21:27). So, there are twin calls to stand in this teaching of Jesus – standing firm under pressure of persecution and standing up in hope of Jesus' return. 

Physical endurance challenges and competitions are very popular right now. Whether open water swimming, extreme marathons, road cycle races, triathlons and gigathons, Tough Mudder assault course races, even learning and competing in combat sports, some people relish the opportunity to push their bodies to new limits, and against new challenges, for the sheer challenge of it. Yes, it might be a craze, but when tested, people often find themselves to be tougher and more resilient than they thought they could be. 

Likewise St Paul reminds us in the letter to the Ephesians that we are stronger in our faith than we realize. Our ability to endure tough times is not in our own strength but in the power of the Lord (Ephesians 6:10). We have a spiritual armour and an inner resilience of the Holy Spirit that can help us stand in the battle for our faith. When he refers to standing our ground on the day of evil, it is a pointer to the great days of testing in the end times (Ephesians 6:13). We do not have to be crushed in spirit when difficulty or persecution come, nor lose our grip on our faith in the Lord; having done everything, we can stay standing – standing firm under pressure, and standing up in hope. May God give us his grace to stand!

Reflect: How do I feel about being under pressure or misunderstood by others because I am a Christian? When have I been tested in my faith? What helped me to stay standing? Have I learned how to find hope in the Lord in circumstances when other people around are fearful? 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the joy of my salvation, that I have found it is worth giving everything to follow you. Thank you for the strength of your Spirit that I discover is within me. Help me to draw on your strength when I am ridiculed or called to account for my faith in you. Help me too to overflow with living hope in you even when the world is shaking, and others are troubled. Let my hope in you help those around me to put their trust in you too. In your name I pray. Amen.