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Tag: Stand upright

Be ye Steadfast :: In perceiving faith

The Bible counsels us to be steadfast (1 Corinthians 15:58). Acts 14:8-9 records the incident of the healing of a lame man, who was crippled from birth. This man was in Lystra, where Paul and Barnabas has fled, to escape the assault of the Jews in Iconium. He had never walked since birth. But what is of note is that Paul steadfastly looked at this man, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” and the man leaped and walked. One one hand, it was the man’s faith that he would be healed that healed him, but on the other hand, it was the steadfast look of Paul on that man, by which he perceived the faith that was in him, that made this miracle happen.

Points to ponder:
Do you and I  take the time to steadfastly look at those around us? And when we look, are we merely glancing at those around us or are we steadfastly looking at them and perceiving the faith in them; faith to be saved and be made upright; to walk in the newness of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:4). Let us be steadfast in perceiving the (saving) faith of those we look at and let us boldly proclaim for them to be saved by pointing them to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of their faith and ours!

John 14:8-10 (KJV)
And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:
The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Understand and stand up(right)

From Daniel 10, we learn that when Daniel was earnestly praying in humility for understanding, an answer to his request was sent, but the angel with the answer was delayed due to an invisible war that ensued in the spiritual dimension, between the forces of evil (prince of Persia and later the prince of Greece) and the forces of God (the angel with the answer and Michael, the archangel). When the angel with the answer, finally arrives after 21 days of warfare, Daniel is helped to his knees (Daniel 10:10) and asked to understand the words that he was spoken to and to stand upright (Daniel 10:11).

Daniel sought to understand and he was asked to understand God’s message. Daniel was also asked to stand upright. Ecclesiastes 7:29 informs us that God hath made man upright but they have sought out many inventions which means that God created man(kind)/people upright (in his own image) but man has chosen his own downward path (NLT) (from and since his rebellion and fall in the garden of Eden). God want us to be restored, to stand up and stand upright (faultless) before God. This is only possible if we understand the message that God has sent to us; the message of God’s inseparable love, in the form of His Only begotten Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Jesus Christ is God’s message to mankind. He is the answer to the question – “How can man stand upright?” for it is only Jesus Christ, the only wise God and Savior, who can keep us from falling and present us faultless (upright) before the presence of God’s glory (Jude 1:23).There is no other way to righteousness, to standing upright.

Point(s) to ponder:
1. We must be on our knees (not feet) in order to stand before God!
2. We must believe in the Word of God (Jesus Christ), standing up on our knees in humility accepting His Lordship, so that He can make us stand up(right) before God.
In other words, We must Understand God’s Message to Stand Up(right)!

Ecclesiastes 7:29 (KJV)
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Daniel 10:10-12 (KJV)
10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

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