Tag Archives: standing up for your faith

October 1, 2025 · 5:48 AM

Wholehearted Commitment

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a pastor in Germany during Hitler’s rule. He recognized the atrocities that were going on and began to speak out against the Nazis. He believed that our faith demands action against evil and we must stand up against it. He knew there were risks associated with speaking out, and he still did it. He was arrested and placed in a concentration camp. He never let fear dictate his faith. The camp doctor, who saw him just before he died, said that he saw Pastor Bonhoeffer kneeling in prayer just before his execution. His devotion and conviction moved the doctor deeply.

In Daniel 3, the Israelites had been captured and taken to Babylon. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, though captives, had proven themselves worthy of serving the king in his court. When the king built a giant statue to be worshiped, they refused knowing the consequences. When they were brought before the king, he offered them the choice to bow or to be thrown into a fiery furnace. They told him they would not and that God was able to deliver them. Then in verse 18 they said, “But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up” (NLT). They were thrown into the furnace, and God did show up in a mighty way.

Deuteronomy 6:5-6 says, “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.” God doesn’t just want our heart or just our mind. If we’re going to be able to fully commit our life to Him despite the consequences, then we’re going to have to love Him with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength to Him. How are you doing in each of those areas? Have you committed wholeheartedly to follow what He said and willing to stand up in a culture that is opposed to His way of living? Ask the Holy Spirit to shine a light in your life to show where your commitment may be lacking. Also ask Him for courage to stand up for Him despite the consequences even if He doesn’t show up to deliver you from them.

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July 14, 2025 · 5:25 AM

Standing For Righteousness

About a hundred years after King David died, one of his descendants named Jehoshaphat took the throne of Israel. He inherited a divided and distracted kingdom. He had the choice to lead with courage and conviction or compromise. He chose to lead God’s way no matter what. His decisions weren’t easy or popular at times. In fact, he removed his grandmother from her place in the palace because of her idolatrous influence on the people. He wasn’t driven by what was popular politically but led with moral conviction based on the precepts that God had given them to live by. He understood that you can’t lead people to God while tolerating what pulls them away from Him. He loved his family, friends and nation enough to speak the truth and do whatever it took to stand for righteousness in an unrighteous generation.

The love God calls us to show is one that calls people out of their sin rather than to accept it. He is looking for leaders like Jehoshaphat who will stand up in their generation to lead with conviction of what is right and what is wrong. 2 Chronicles 17:6 says, “He was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord” (NLT). He wasn’t just passionate about God’s Word, he was bold enough to stand for righteousness when the culture around him was opposed to it. He taught people the truth and called them to live holy lives. He also demonstrated this commitment in his own life. Because of his courage and leadership, the nation turned back to God. 

He faced the same pressure to fit in than to stand out that we do. Like him, we must identify what is distracting us and pulling us away from God first. Once he got his heart right, he then found the boldness to stand up to the culture around him. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” We must keep our eyes on Jesus who showed us how to love with grace and truth. He will strengthen you and give you the courage to stand up for Him so you can lead others to salvation.

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June 16, 2025 · 5:30 AM

You Are Called

Almost everyone knows the story of 1 Kings 18. Elijah was the prophet of God in a nation who had turned from Him. He called all of them to Mount Carmel to challenge Baal, the god Israelites were serving. The challenge was to have the prophets of Baal create a sacrifice and to call down fire from Heaven to consume it. He would do the same thing but call out to God. The one true God would answer by fire, and no one would be able to dispute it. In verse 21 he asked a question every generation must answer. He asked, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him!” (NLT) He then rebuilt the altar and proceeded to pray. It was then that God sent fire to consume the altar, and the people turned to God.

Like Elijah, we can’t avoid confrontation when it comes to our faith. He didn’t soften his message that people need to repent. He asked a question that demands an answer and pulls people from a life of compromise. Ephesians 4:15 says, “We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” The truth of God’s Word is what sets people free from a life of compromise. We must learn to speak truth in love to our generation so that the fires of revival will burn. It is the responsibility of each of us to stand up for truth and to call people to serve God. If each of us stays silent, how will they ever know that God loves them and sent His Son to die for them.


In Mark 16:15 Jesus gave the Great Commission to all of us. He said, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” You are God’s plan to reach this world. You are called to live as a leader in your faith. There is no more time for wavering. If God is God, then serve Him wholeheartedly. You are empowered by the Holy Spirit in you to be a witness wherever you go. You cannot tolerate what God has called you to tear down. We must not only pray for revival but begin to prepare for it in our own lives. We must choose holiness over hype, truth over trends and faith over fear. You are called and equipped to stand up in this generation so that they will know the truth. You are called to leave the idols of comfort behind and lift up a standard that will create spiritual transformation.

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