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Sunday, June 9, 2013

Pastoral Pings ~ Standing on the Word That Stands

          I love the way a word or phrase from the Bible will stand out in a unique way, on a particular day, and give us our daily bread of hope to build up our faith. This week I have been considering the twenty-four elders surrounding the throne of God.[1] This has led me through many Scriptures about elders, crowns, white robes, and what it means for the church to be royalty, the sons of the Universe’s King.

          In a passage that presents God’s children as “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation”,[2] our encouragement is bolstered with a particular Scripture about Jesus Christ.[3] However, what stood out was the wording that introduced that reference. The apostle Peter wrote, “For it stands in Scripture…”[4]

          This impacted me with the reminder of how things stand. They do not stand the way we see them unfolding around us. They do not stand in the words of man, the promises of government, or the ideals of environmental agencies. People who mistreat the children of God will not stand. Beasts, antichrists, and red dragons will not stand against the judgment and wrath of God. It is the words of God that have stood, that do stand, that will stand forever, and so we put our faith in what we hear from God’s words, not what we see with our eyes.

          Consider this word that stands in Scripture:

A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.[5]

          It is “the word of our God” that “will stand forever”. So, when we read that, “All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field… surely the people are grass,” we can bring to mind all the people who are against God, and against his church. We are to see them as fragile as grass, and breakable as the flowers of the field.

          Then we consider that, “The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it.” No matter what these people look like at the moment, when the LORD breathes on them, when he comes against them in judgment, they will be like grass and flowers withering and fading under his breath.

          On the other hand, we have the assurance that, “the word of our God will stand forever”. Scripture stands because God stands. Who he is makes certain what he says.

          The conclusion for God’s people is: Be done with fear of man and build up your faith in God. Stand firm on Scripture because Scripture stands unshakeable in everything to do with God. Faith comes from hearing the words of Christ,[6] so hear what Scripture speaks into your heart and let your faith grow.

          When Peter draws our attention to what stands in Scripture, he presents this word of God: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”[7] When we understand that it is Scripture that stands, we can take our stand on this Scripture. Because Jesus himself is the cornerstone of the church, the church will never be put to shame. Rather, we know that God will fulfill his plan “that we should be holy and blameless before him”.[8] Or, as another brother puts it:

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.[9]

          How do I know these things are true? Because it stands in Scripture.

          From my heart,

          Monte

 
 
 
 
© 2013 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)



[1] Revelation 4:4
[2] I Peter 2:9
[3] “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” (I Peter 2:6)
[4] I Peter 2:6
[5] Isaiah 40
[6] Romans 10:17
[7] I Peter 2:6
[8] Ephesians 1:4
[9] Jude 1

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