"Stand!"

 "These things have I spoken unto you, that you should not be offended." (John 16:1 KJV)

  "John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?" Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen - the blind see, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. And tell him, 'God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.'"" (Matthew 11:2-6 NLT)

 I envisioned a lone soldier that was standing, while all others were hiding or running away as if there is something more important than death, something that is worth standing for, regardless of how things might appear. This word, "offended," is what sparked my imagination, as it speaks of, "to cause a person to begin to distrust or desert one whom he ought to trust and obey."

 If you recall, John the Baptist is the one who first announced who Jesus was, saying, "Behold, The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!" Yet, in his hour of despair, feeling disappointed that he has not been rescued or released from prison, he begins to doubt who Jesus is, letting his situation, distrust the One he should trust and obey! 

 Think about that, applying it to your own discouragement or disappointment. Does your mind begin to wonder that you might have been abandoned? Maybe you might think that you have sin that you are being punished for? Better yet, you might think that everything you thought was real, was just a hoax? 

 First of all, the greatest tool that the devil has, is discouragement! Yes, disappointment is one thing that might cause us to stumble; but it is easy to overcome, because there are always greater things to look forward to, beyond anything that might disappoint us. But discouragement is something that can make us feel weak and unworthy of God's love; something that we should never even consider, becomes a thing that presses into our thoughts, making us doubt something we must stand up and praise God about! 

 Secondly, and most importantly: Jesus has never promised us that we would not have tribulation and trials; as a matter of fact, He said that we would! He never promised us that we would live a peaceful life of comfort, having everything we want, and be free from any discomfort. As a matter of fact, He had no place to call His own, except Heaven! 

 This life is only temporary, just a vapor, as James puts it! There is nothing here that we can hold onto, nothing here that can give us any security. The only One who we can count on, is the One who we must stand for and make known! If you might feel doubtful, then you must refuse to doubt, and stand up and shout! That is basically called, Taking a stand...

"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so that you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm." (Ephesians 6:10-13 NLT)