Firm

“…if you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭7:9‬ ‭ESV).‬‬

The world has tried to sell us a bill of goods. It wants us to believe that the most important thing is self esteem. It wants us to think that we need embrace who we are, whether or not our character is worthy of embracing.

Should we embrace a lifestyle that isn’t pleasing to God? It really doesn’t matter what sinful lifestyle we’re talking about, either. If we choose the world’s way, we believe that our sins are not so bad.

But even if our lives are praiseworthy in the eyes of the world, even if we are not in bondage to any grievous sins, it’s not about the world, and it’s not about us.

When we accept the lie that makes us the center of the universe, we may think that we stand firm. But even if our foundation looks secure, “…if you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.” Or, as Paul put it, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12 ESV).

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1 ESV). Jesus set us free from sin so that we could and would remain free of sin. It was never His intention for us to be content with our own sinfulness.

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4 ESV). Our faith is our foundation! It is not, as the world would suggest, that we are comfortable in our own skin.

What did Paul say? “’For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death” (Romans 7:22-24 ESV)?

One of the greatest Christians of all time was _not_ comfortable in his own skin! He understood the dichotomy of man, flesh versus spirit. When we set our minds on our faith in Christ we stand firm; when we set our minds on the flesh, our outer being, we only think we stand. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:5-8 ESV).

We all long for security, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But we need to remind ourselves that we will never find security in the world’s system. We will never find security in accepting our sin as a part of who we are. We will only ever stand firm and secure when we find our security in our faith in Christ Jesus.

Blessings on your day!