“Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, they stand up together.”
Is. 4:13
“Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.” Dan. 12:3
By name, God calls the stars in the heavens to stand up. “To stand up” (‘amad) means to take a stand, hold one’s ground, rise up or stand against, endure, persist, be steadfast. As Believers, we too are referred to as stars, and we too are called by God to stand up.
In love, STAND UP.
Stand up and buy the homeless man (hand-washing his clothes in the launder mat like Big Mike in the movie Blind Side), a few loads worth of laundry…treating him/her as one would a friend.
Stand up and let God’s peace shine out to all who come in contact with you … amidst the uncertainty of investigative tests at the hospital.
Stand up and according to Truth, call the Senator’s office and in love briefly share why his/her policies are in the wrong.
Stand up and offer a kind word or act (along with kind body language and facial expressions) to that unkind or rebellious person.
Stand up and share the love of Jesus (not religion) with the person at the car wash, at the office, in line, at the gym, in the class, at practice, on the plane, in the parking lot….
Stand up in the privacy of our own home and worship our KING with arms open wide or prostrate on the ground in humble submission.
Stand up in heart and mind (rather than succumbing to a pity party), and chose to embrace God’s sovereignty amidst a difficult personal challenge.
Stand up and choose to intercede for a significant someone who has wronged or hurt us…and be set free in the process.
Stand up and text/call ones spouse, apologizing for our behavior … despite feeling personally wronged. (No perfect people, only a perfect God)
Stand up and bring a warm dish of food or a listening ear to a hurting friend, just to say, “I care”.
Sadly, most USA Christians today chose to believe a brand of Christianity that makes no demands and doesn’t call for wholehearted devotion; a religion, instead of an intimate relationship with the living God. But this is not what God designed us for. Each one of our lives counts, has worth, is significant and can make a difference in our world.
Stand up and make a difference … one life at a time … until the whole world knows.
To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than ALL we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work with in us, to Him be the glory this week and always! xo ~Shaun and Betsy
