Chapel – 4/23/20
“Stand”
It goes against just about everything we’ve been taught since little on: Stand! (Stay put!). Raise your hand if you’ve ever been tempted to run away from a problem. Raise your other hand if you’ve ever run toward a problem with little regard for what the outcome might be. These two responses are probably normal human responses…one done out of fear and the other done out of a bold disregard for life or limb. Both responses are understandable, too. Running away protects ourselves and perhaps others from further harm. Running toward a problem might demonstrate our fearless leadership in hopes of solving the problem sooner rather than later. To be fair, there’s probably a time and a place for each of these reactions.
It is interesting to me, however, that God gave His people some different advice once in a while. Let’s look at Moses: Ex. 14:13 “And Moses said to the people, ‘Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today.’ ” Here was Moses with Pharaoh’s army on his tail and the Red Sea in front of him…nowhere to go! Look at his confidence in God! The prophet Samuel had similar advice for the Hebrew people even as they were calling for a king: I Samuel 12:16 “Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes.” Or how about the daring command of an angel of the Lord when the very first apostles were released from prison: Acts 5:20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” All of these directives to “stand” required a lot of faith. Sometimes God asks us to just stand and trust Him. This might be something we need to learn all over again.
The apostle Paul also had a thought about “standing” for the Lord. Eph. 6:10-18 (This is homework! Look it up!) Paul encourages us to put on the whole armor of God which includes a helmet, a sword, a breastplate, a belt, and shoes. Fully equipped with this armor would make it very hard to run away from or toward a problem, so Paul says, “stand firm…stay put!” This is how we’re able to withstand the day of evil. What GREAT advice, especially when we know we’re fully equipped. What do we stand against these days? When the Christian church is taking a beating for what it believes and Christian values, and those people who hold to them, are mocked, God’s asking us to stand.. When our hearts are broken or school is more than we can handle right now, God’s asking us to stand. When a deadly virus disrupts everything we hold dear or when the future looks very uncertain or when precious high school memories go unfulfilled, God’s asking us to stand. It would be easy to run away or sprint foolishly headlong into trouble, but God is telling us to zero in on the only One who can remedy our situation: Himself!
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus…sometimes our situations are more than we can handle. In our weakness, we know You are strong. In our “tests,” help us to learn to stand. In Your precious name we stand and hope. Amen.
Song: I would encourage you to follow along with the lyrics to this song as you enjoy the hauntingly beautiful voice of Alison Krauss.
“Jesus Help Me to Stand” written by Ron Block
Performed by Alison Krauss
Through trials, troubles and care
I know Jesus my savior is there
Giving me faith through darkest days
Keeping me on the narrow way
Jesus savior, help me each day
Fill me with hope, fill me with faith
Darkness retreats at the touch of Your hand
Jesus savior, help me to stand
Jesus lived through darkest pain
Rejected by men, despising the shame
Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief
He gave His life so we may be free
Jesus savior, help me each day
Fill me with hope, fill me with faith
Darkness retreats at the touch of Your hand
Jesus savior, help me to stand
I know that Jesus died for me
Canceled my debt at Calvary
Rose from the dead, unlocked Heaven’s door
Trust in His love and live evermore
Jesus savior, help me each day
Fill me with hope, fill me with faith
Darkness retreats at the touch of Your hand
Jesus savior, help me to stand
Contributed by: Mr. Kurt Hofmeister