Imagine, if you will, a dark, barren landscape with almost no trees left around. You feel as if you are alone, but you know that there are other people in your area. You know they are there because you can hear them fighting an enemy in close combat. You can feel the wind beginning to pick up; so much so that it seems to want to blow you off of your feet. It wouldn’t be so bad if you didn’t have to hold onto a pole in your right hand. However, this is an important pole. For at the top of this pole is a flag, or standard, that lets those around you know where they are and where to go to if they get into trouble. This standard can do much more than this, though. It also wards off the enemy and keeps them away from you, and those around you. They may try to attack you and your compatriots, but they can’t advance on you as long as that standard is held high. You have an extremely important task at hand—keep that standard flying high.
This embodies the spiritual battle that each and every Christian faces on a daily basis. Case in point, in the course of one day this week I came directly and indirectly into contact with: a colleague whose twenty-year-old son is recovering from a second surgery for metastatic bone cancer, a report of a former co-worker whose is recovering from a total colonectomy due to colon cancer, individuals with fractured bones, others with troubled relationships with family and friends, you name it—the wind started picking up rather quickly and with an increasing force. So, through words of encouragement, actions of compassion, and prayer for all, the standard was firmly planted in the ground.
I know this sounds fairly aggressive, but I want us to realize that there is a devil who wants to knock us down and take us out—the standard bearers. Thankfully, due to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are over comers and victors; the battle has already been decided. With this certainty, we can encourage and pray for these individuals. More often than not, these folks will approach us for help because they recognize our standard; the banner that signifies our allegiance with God through Jesus Christ. With this opportunity, we can let them know that we will take that prayer request to the throne room of God with confidence that we will receive mercy and find grace before our Creator. We can also teach them of the everlasting truth—there is a Savior who wants to know them personally, and would love to reside in their heart.
If your standard has dipped down, raise it back up. If it has been knocked to the ground, you are okay. Pick up your banner, clean it off, and raise it high for those around you to see. If you don’t have a banner, now would be a perfect time to confess that you are a sinner, ask Jesus Christ into your heart, and pledge your life to Him. “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9). Now take your standard into your hand and raise it high into the air for those on the battlefield to see.
Come on standard bearers, we can do this! How do I know: 1) “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13); and 2) “...we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37). God is with us, keep those banners flying high!
Have a victorious day,
--Eastpointer
(Image courtesy of Google Images)
This embodies the spiritual battle that each and every Christian faces on a daily basis. Case in point, in the course of one day this week I came directly and indirectly into contact with: a colleague whose twenty-year-old son is recovering from a second surgery for metastatic bone cancer, a report of a former co-worker whose is recovering from a total colonectomy due to colon cancer, individuals with fractured bones, others with troubled relationships with family and friends, you name it—the wind started picking up rather quickly and with an increasing force. So, through words of encouragement, actions of compassion, and prayer for all, the standard was firmly planted in the ground.
I know this sounds fairly aggressive, but I want us to realize that there is a devil who wants to knock us down and take us out—the standard bearers. Thankfully, due to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are over comers and victors; the battle has already been decided. With this certainty, we can encourage and pray for these individuals. More often than not, these folks will approach us for help because they recognize our standard; the banner that signifies our allegiance with God through Jesus Christ. With this opportunity, we can let them know that we will take that prayer request to the throne room of God with confidence that we will receive mercy and find grace before our Creator. We can also teach them of the everlasting truth—there is a Savior who wants to know them personally, and would love to reside in their heart.
If your standard has dipped down, raise it back up. If it has been knocked to the ground, you are okay. Pick up your banner, clean it off, and raise it high for those around you to see. If you don’t have a banner, now would be a perfect time to confess that you are a sinner, ask Jesus Christ into your heart, and pledge your life to Him. “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9). Now take your standard into your hand and raise it high into the air for those on the battlefield to see.
Come on standard bearers, we can do this! How do I know: 1) “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13); and 2) “...we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37). God is with us, keep those banners flying high!
Have a victorious day,
--Eastpointer
(Image courtesy of Google Images)
