Love Stands Firm
Because, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and my crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. (Phil. 4:1)
Phil. 3:20-41; Phil. 1:27; Phil, 2:1-5; John 15:12; Rom. 12:9; I Thess. 3:12-13
What Is God Saying?
Luke, the beloved physician, was the pastor of this model church in Philippi for the first six years. The lack of problems to be addressed and the sacrificial concern of the Christians there can be traced to Luke's loving and faithful example. Paul was glad that the first church he established in Europe was remaining true to the teachings and the spirit of the Gospel (Phil. 1:29) for the Christians there not only believed in Christ but also suffered for Christ. That is the cost of ‘standing firm ... with one mind striving for the faith of the Gospel’ (Phil. 1:27).
The Philippians had demonstrated that their faith was real, but they were not to rest on their laurels. A Christian is always going against the current. That is why Paul, in the most loving of terms, reminds the Philippians that his love for them and their love for Christ both call for standing firm. Christian love is closely related to courageous witnessing. It is far, far removed from mushy sentimentality.
How Does This Apply To Us?
Paul's letter to the Philippians, full of love and joy, came to the Christian community in that far-off Roman colony with rays of blessing from Heaven. Out of a common prison, with his death almost certain and imminent, Paul wrote this amazing letter of joy and love. With the letter came the wisdom of years and the fruit of a long and faithful walk with the Lord. How deeply Paul felt it! How warmly his friends in Philippi welcomed his encouragement and understanding, thanksgiving and appreciation, love and joy, like twin rays from Heaven, filtered, as it were, through the heart of the Apostle.
The light that spills over from Heaven, whose very atmosphere is love and joy, does shed light on our earthly routines, our paths of duty, our successes and our failures, our good times and bad, our hours of leisure, and our battles against evil and compromise. As Paul said in an earlier letter, ‘Love bears all things. Love endures all things.’ Therefore Paul considers love and standing firm as inseparable. This has to do with all true love, God's love for us and our love for each other. If we have received God's love and if we have experienced the joy of the Lord in the fellowship of others, we will stand firm. It takes courage to stand firm but love has no other agenda.
Pray With Me
O God, whose love never fades and whose justice never falters, give me to see that loving and standing firm are two sides of the same coin. To love and not to stand firm is an empty sentiment. To stand firm and not love is to see the color, the fragrance, and the joy all fade from life.
Love leads to standing firm or it is not love. The more I am loved, the firmer I should stand. ‘Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.’ Love stands firm. If I am loved, I should stand firm. Because I am loved, I will stand firm. Because Paul loved his friends in the Church at Philippi, he called on them to ‘stand firm thus in the Lord.’ His patient love, not angry reproof, would call out the best in them. Love awakens caring trust and confidence. These are better doorways to a life of winning witness than blame or shame.
• I will stand firm against the subtle voice of temptati0n because I know that I am loved.
• I will stand firm against the downward drag of doubt, knowing many believe in me and love me.
• I will stand firm when the lines of moral resolve slacken and compromise seems to be the easy and sensible choice.
• I will stand firm knowing there are those whose love for me merits the best from me.
• Above all I will stand firm because I am loved by You.
• I will stand firm because I am important to You.
• I will stand firm because You have a perfect plan for my life.
Your love will lead me to glory. Your love will guard me against every temptation now or ever. Your love will melt every cloud of doubt or fear. From Your love, I draw all my strength. In Your love is all my hope, and in the name of Your Love, even Jesus Christ is all my prayer. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Love and standing firm go hand in hand in the Christian's life. Love is the root of standing firm. Standing firm is the fruit of love. Jesus said, ‘If a man loves me, he will keep my Word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him (John 14:23). That's it! To stand firm, kneel often. Prayer is loving God and wanting Him to be at home in our hearts. Can you think of a better description for prayer or standing firm?
