Take a Stand for Christ or Take a Seat in the Stands
“Once you start listening to people in the stands, you will soon be sitting with them.” ~ Joe Kuharich, head football coach, college/national leagues.
The same is true in life.
We choose to either sit in the stands or take a stand for something.
Something that matters. Like Christ, heaven, eternal life, and spiritual beliefs that line up with God’s truth.
The Free Dictionary describes take a stand. “Adopt a firm position about an issue.”
Whether school, work, home, social events, government, or online. We stand up for what we believe in.
Four ways to take a stand for Christ.
1) Listen to the Lord to continue in His playbook.
“But my people did not listen to my voice” Psalm 81:11a ESV.
Listening for positioning.
Positions on spiritual issues. And the mission field God calls us to. But there’s a difference between hearing and listening.
Hearing is the physiological mechanics of our ear. While listening means attentive to the words and processing what we hear.
Listening to people in the stands, who do not care what God’s Word says, causes us to take our seat. It makes us fans of men sitting idly in the stands of life.
Ask: where is the Lord strategically positioning me in my current life?
2) Stay in your position on the field.
“Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition” Philippians 1:27 MSG.
Staying for playing.
When the going gets tough in the game of life, we can stay or run away.
As a Christ-follower, we stay on our mission field. God may not call us to cross the ocean to another country. Or, He might (I would love to go back to Africa one day).
But in the here and now, we cross the street and talk to our neighbor. Or, cross the hallway at work with the message of the cross.
Our mission remains on our current playing field today, and the next day and the next. Wherever we are now.
Called to take a stand. To make a difference for Jesus. #Jesus #standup Share on XWhen the mission turns difficult (the opponent’s position is diabolical), we often run. We go out of the game instead of out into the world to spread the faith.
The enemy wants us running for “me” reasons.
- I don’t feel like a part of the team or a connection to the cause.
- I’m not getting anything out of it. It’s too hard. I don’t like my position.
- It’s all about me, not Jesus. I’ve got this. Give me the most important plays. (The star player syndrome.)
Ask: Is Christ the star player in my life. Am I making a difference for Him?
3) Guard you and your team well from the opponent.
“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong” I Corinthians 16:13 NLT.
Shielding not yielding.
Never yield to advice in the stands or to the enemy’s tactics.
Guarding is crucial to protecting, scoring, and the win. Never let your guard down.
We must actively protect ourselves, our family, and our body of believers from the enemy. To gain the spiritual victory in the battle, in our lives, in our church, we must stand guard.
Ask: What’s the spiritual “win” in my personal life and on my mission field?
4) Keep the goal in mind.
“I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back” Philippians 3:14 MSG.
Keeping by seeing.
Never lose focus of the goal. And never turn back.
In any sport, if we lose focus of the goal, we lose the game.
Ask: Are my eyes on the goal or have I turned back? Is knowing Jesus and making Him known my goal?
Listen.
Stay.
Guard.
Keep.
Take a stand for Christ instead of taking a seat in the stands of life.
FCA-Fellowship of Christian Athletes video filmed by my son with original song by my nephew. An inspiration to take a stand for Christ and never turn back.
Images or text/design created in Adobe Spark.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Jaime Wiebel/#SittingAmongFriends, Crystal Twadell/Fresh Market Friday, Kelly Balarie/Purposeful Faith, Patricia Holbrook/Soaring With Him, Meghan Weyerbacher/TeaandtheWord, Lyli Dunbar/#FaithOnFire & Crystal Storms/Heart Encouragement.
© 2018 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Amen-Amein Sister in Christ-Messiah Jesus-Yeshua Karen!! God Bless You Sister in Christ Jesus-Yeshua Karen and Your Family members and Friends!!
I am Following Your Facebook / Twitter / Google / and Pinterest!!
GOD Bless all my Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus-Yeshua and my Messianic Jewish Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus-Yeshua and Your Families and Friends!!
Our ONE True GOD’S LOVE 💜💕 is ETERNAL THROUGH HIS SON Jesus-Yeshua Christ for Today and Everyday Forevermore Everyone!!
I Love you all Everyone through Christ Jesus-Yeshua, because HE LOVED 💕💜 EVERYONE FIRST!!
Love 💕 Always and Shalom ( Peace ), YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann
Thank you, Kristi, following you as well. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and ALL that is within me, bless his holy name! Who forgives ALL your iniquity, who heals ALL your diseases.” Psalm 103:1-3
Great words, Karen. Saw it on your FB and wanted to come over to read it for myself. I can so see me saying this to one of my boys, especially to be willing to stand alone when others are doing something you don’t feel honors the Lord.
Thank you, Lisa. Yes, that reminds me of the hymn, “Stand up, stand up for Jesus.” May we stand for Him, even if alone, and not take a seat in the stands. Appreciate you commenting.
You’re very welcome Sister in Christ Jesus-Yeshua Karen!!
I agree with the Holy Bible Verses above!!
I take Vicodin for my pain, only when I need it though!! I have two Ruptured disks in my back, one in my neck at C5-C6 and very bad one in my lower back at L4-L5!! I can only see with my left eye, as last year I was sent to the emergency room, because I couldn’t see!!
I had a doctor’s appointment today, and they check everything on me, they took blood!!
You can read more about my disabilities at my website ( About Me ), and read more about my Birth Defect called Pectus Excavatum, my Sternum bone was fused to my backbone when I was born!!
This is why I say this, Jesus-Yeshua Christ SAVED my life more than once in my life!!
I trust in Jesus-Yeshua Christ with all my Heart and Soul!! He has kept me safe for many years!!
Our ONE True GOD’S LOVE 💜💕 is ETERNAL THROUGH HIS SON Jesus-Yeshua Christ for Today and Everyday Forevermore Everyone!!
I Love you all Everyone through Jesus-Yeshua Christ, because HE LOVED 💕💜 EVERYONE FIRST!!
Love 💕 Always and Shalom ( Peace ) Everyone, YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann
We need more believers who are will to stand up in the face of all the cultural voices who are ready and waiting to shout down the Truth. After all, will we be more please at the end of life to say we had the approval of the world, or the approval of God? Thanks!
Amen, Karen. May we find it an honor to stand for Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. “Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition” Philippians 1:27 MSG. Appreciate you commenting.
Karen, I love the title, Take a Stand for Christ or Take a Seat in the Stands. I often are we as believers too quiet? Your 4 points are easy to remember and applicable. Nice.
(We too are FCA supporters.)
Christy, thanks friend. Love FCA. 🙂 “I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back” Philippians 3:14 MSG.
Hi Karen,such a great post. Indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Hey Anne, appreciate you reading this post and stopping by to comment. Thank you. I hope to never idly take a seat in the stands of life, but to stand up for Christ.
“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong” I Corinthians 16:13 NLT.
Blessings!