Stand Up for Jesus

All day I have had the song "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus" running through my mind. And of all things, it is this verse...

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
stand in his strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you,
ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
each piece put on with prayer;
where duty calls or danger,
be never wanting there.

For those wondering, that is the 3rd verse. I am Baptist, how did I even know the 3rd verse of a song??? Okay, that was a poor joke... Sorry. Now, back to the purpose of this blog.

As I have thought through this verse today, I realized that as Christians, too many of us have spent too many years not standing up for Jesus. For a long time, we probably didn't realize that we would need to. However, for the last several years, many of us have remained quiet because we didn't want to offend others. Now we feel like we have to remain quiet or else we will be attacked for our beliefs.

The time for being quiet is over! If we don't stand up for Jesus now, we may never be able to again. As I said in my last post, it is time we Christians put on our rally caps. It is time we get in the game and make a difference for Christ. We, of all people, should know that we have already won! We have the play book. God wins... Satan loses! The question is, are we willing to get in the game?

Look again at the verse above. The writer calls us to Stand up, but not in our own strength because that will fail. No, we are to stand up in the strength of Christ. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13.

Next, the writer tells us to put on the gospel armor. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Ephesians 6:14-17

Finally, the writer tells us to stand up where duty calls or danger. We don't get a free pass on this one. We can't pick and choose the safe times to stand up. When we see something that goes against God's word, we are to stand up. The time will come when we will kneel before our God. I don't know about you, but I want to hear the words, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord ... that means we will suit up with the Armor of God, and Stand up, Stand up for Jesus!