Stand firm...

Stand firm...

I was reading in 1 Corinthians this am, "stand firm" kept coming up...then turned to the verses designated for today by someone in Bible gateway ...


"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?
You ought to live holy and godly lives So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
2 Peter 3:10-11,14,18

I always marvel that "out of the blue" how messages time after time go together....the God of the universe cares enough for me to give me a message through more than one avenue...and that they piggy back one another.... Enhance one another...build on one another...

I started out with "stand firm" and He led it into spotless, blameless, peace, "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus  Christ"...all of which are "commands", admonishments to our lives...we want to be found growing and not retreating in life...

There are 34 references to "stand firm" in the Bible and 20 of them are in the New Testament. Paul repeatedly writes to "stand firm" in his various letters. Times were tough...we may face those times in our  lives as well and we have the choice to "stand firm" in our faith, be at peace, grow  in grace...
Thank YOU that you help us stand when we falter, You go before and after us, You strengthen us, You speak to us, You counsel us in truth...