Stand firm. Be strong. Endure.

by Rev. Dr. Aric Fenske, LFL Executive Director 

Stand firm. Be strong. Endure.
These are all biblical words of exhortation. Each one implies the same thing: Being faithful to our calling as disciples of Christ is an ongoing struggle. As Luther reminded us in his Small Catechism, the devil, the world, and our own sinful nature “do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come.” As long as sin remains in the world, there will be opposition to Christ’s Church and to the truth of His Word. 

We make progress in one area of the life arena, only to lose ground in another. Attitudes toward abortion might be shifting for the good in one state, while others push for later term abortions and wider access to medical abortion and the morning after pill. The tide may start to turn regarding gender issues, but the widespread acceptance of divorce and pre-marital sex continues to spread, even among the Church. And studies have shown that American Christians are becoming more sympathetic toward physician-assisted suicide. 

There is certainly plenty of work for us to do, work that will continue to face opposition. Therefore, we must continue to heed the encouragement to stand firm. We must remain steadfast and faithful in the face of the devil’s attacks and the world’s hatred, both for the sake of our own souls and for those of our neighbors. 

However, we must also remember the words of St. Paul, which caution us against thinking that this is something we can do alone. 

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” 
(1 Corinthians 10:12). 

Standing firm against the forces of evil is not something that we sinners can do by our own power. If we tried, we would most certainly fall. 

Thankfully, our Lord does not leave us to stand by ourselves! Far from standing alone, Jesus invites us to come and stand in Him and in the strength that He supplies (1 Peter 4:11). For He has already entered this battle against sin and death and has conquered in the fight. Now, by faith in Jesus, we are brought into His victory to stand covered in the righteousness of Christ Himself and equipped with His strength, gifts we receive through His precious Word and Sacraments. 

“Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved”
(Philippians 4:1).