STAND
TALL
The Lord
is involved in everything we do, including our choices politically, socially,
and emotionally. When we voice our choices publicly, we better be ready to be
criticized. Nobody craves criticism. It can be hurtful, but we need to learn to
deal with it. It’s better to stand for something and be criticized than remain
apathetic and fearful. Even in olden times, kings respected strong enemies brave
enough to stand tall for what they believed. God’s Word has a strong Word for
those who He deems lukewarm:
“I know
thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or
hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will
spue thee out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:15-16).
Wow,
that’s powerful! I used to fear offending friends and family more than
offending God. I wanted people to like me, and I didn’t want to argue or get
into any debates where I had to defend what I thought. But after a while, I
learned that no matter what I did, I wasn’t going to please everyone. Many
adults are still trying to get their parents’ approval like they did when they
were children, but it doesn’t seem to work. I was one of them.
Finally,
in my mid-forties, I realized I didn’t have to try to please my parents
anymore. The very middle verse of the Bible says: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence
in man” (Ps. 118:8). When I changed my focus to pleasing God, it was
shortly afterward that my parents began to totally respect me as an adult
person and not as a needy child anymore.
I was
taught to be polite (which I think is a good thing), but polite became timid,
and timid became fearful. I’m not fearful now; you don’t have to be either. We
can speak our minds openly and disagree. Paul and Peter disagreed about certain
things but didn’t hate each other. They were loud and proud. I’d rather say
what I think and be criticized than be lukewarm and have God’s opinion be that
I’m too “milk toast” to even swallow!
Peter
was a bold guy. He boldly told Jesus that He shouldn’t have to die. Well, Jesus
rebuked him. But Jesus didn’t forsake Peter. He just corrected him, and they
went on being friends. If we think that not voicing what we think is going to
make us a better person, it’s not. We all have opinions, and God knows what
they are. When we don’t speak them out, we might not be fully aware of what we
think.
Putting
a pen or a voice to our thoughts helps us articulate what we think. When we
know what we think, we can either keep thinking it or we can change it.
Changing what we think is part of growth. People change what they think all the
time. There’s no fault in that.
But when
our thoughts are fuzzy and unspoken, they aren’t clear, and they aren’t cold or
hot. They become lukewarm like the Bible says.
Taking a
stand, hot or cold, on what we think requires boldness. Boldness is a quality
God admires. Look at your concordance to see how many times the word “bold” is
used in the Bible!
Let’s be
brave. Let’s step out without fear and voice our opinions, not just mimicking
or agreeing with what others think, but what we truly think. Our true friends
will remain friends, just like Peter and Jesus. Right or wrong, we’ll find out right
or wrong later, which means that sometimes we will definitely be wrong. But so
what? We’ll be right sometimes too. And don’t even think for one minute that
you have to wait until you’re totally right before you speak up. The last
totally right all the time person got up and out of here over 2000 years ago!
Stand
and be grand!
Love,
Carolyn
I have a variety of books
and booklets on contemporary christian living. I know you can find something
that will resonate with your life and heart during these challenging times.
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