Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. Jude 3 (NIV).
Dear friends, we still need to contend for the faith.
If you live in the People’s Republic of China – or any other Communist country – you are living in a beautiful homeland with a pagan government that is hostile to your faith. Communism and Jesus Christ cannot co-exist, and while Jesus wins the battle of the ages against any government, in the meantime, communism and other related, perverted beliefs battle to rule the day. If you live in one of these countries, your faith puts you in danger.
If you live in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, or Sudan, you are living in an ancient homeland where your Christian faith puts your life in danger. Anywhere Islam rules, it crowds out any other faith. Like totalitarian government, Islam must exterminate any other belief system because those other beliefs are threats. The practices of Christianity and Islam co-exist, but the faiths in them cannot. If you’re a Christian living in a Muslim country, your life is in danger.
And if you are a Christian working in corporate America, or in any corrupt government on the planet; if you are a Christian and you attend a secular university, or speak up for your faith in an LGBTQ climate, or even if you display your faith in many public schools today, you are living in an atmosphere where your faith is no longer welcome. It wasn’t always this way, but it is now, and it promises to get worse in the very near future.
Dear friends, in this fallen world, just like in Jude’s world, it is difficult to contend for the faith. It is becoming more and more difficult to stand up for Jesus in a world that hates Him more and more.
Here’s the beautiful thing: stand up for Jesus anyway. He doesn’t want us to stand alone because He promises His Spirit will speak words from our mouths and that He will abide with us here. Yes, stand up for Jesus anyway, no matter what the world schemes to do to us. Stand up for Jesus and make your stand on the side of love, truth, justice, and godliness. Stand by your faith, by your belief. Stand up and let Him stand through you, for love’s sake. Make your stand for that, for Him, no matter what it costs. In the end, the cost will be all worthwhile
Jesus is right, the only right. Stand up for what is right, Who is right. Dear friends, contend today. Believe now. Stand today.
For further reading: 1 Corinthians 10:14, Titus 1:16, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 2:22, Jude 4
Lord Jesus, help me to stand for You today. Forgive those who persecute us, and use my life to witness You to a world set against You.
This content may not be shared without consent of the owners of aspiringwriterdt.com. Please contact aspiringwriterdt@gmail.com for more information.
Practical Proverbs 