^“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.” (Mark 1:9, NIV)

“Then Jesus came into Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.  And John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’  But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’  Then he allowed Him.”  (Matthew 3:13-15, NIV)

It will not be easy to take a stand many times for issues you believe in that are biblical but taking a stand for Jesus and the Bible is the best thing we can do. Taking a stand for doing right is the best way to go.

Trust in the Lord and allow Him to help you through the situations. Many people throughout history have taken a stand on many issues but it was not always peachy. I am not going to say that it is going to be easy but the Lord will strengthen you through the situations.

As the New Year 2012 is  already underway, your faith could be tested and put through the fire. Satan will try to burn you out and make you charred so you cannot stand up for your faith. He could bring all kinds of obstacles into your presence whether it is through professors who speak out against what is biblical, through doubts that creep in, through peer pressure to do things that go against biblical morality, through family life of those that are not followers of Christ, etc. But, you don't have to give in!

Yes friend, you can take a stand! Yes, you can! Jesus loves you so much and paid the ransom for your sins so you can be set free when you turn to Him. Jesus did that by dying on the cross, shedding His precious cleansing blood, being buried, and coming back to life on the 3rd day to save.

We all need Jesus in our lives because sin has marred our relationship with God separating us from Him. Now because of this deadly virus known as sin, it will prevent us from taking a stand for righteousness because it is a slave master keeping us in its bondage but thanks be to God that we can be freed through what Jesus did for us.

Yes, Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Spirit when we yield our life over to Him.

"No one is righteous, not one! All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

"While we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us."

Friend, there will be those that tell you that this is the 21st century and the Bible is outdated but it is not friend. The Word of God stands the test of time and is the same when God gave it to His people to share with all those that would be born later such as you and me.

It will be easier to take a stand when we believe 'The Bible is the Word of God', instead of believing 'Bible becomes the Word of God' or 'Bible contains the Word of God'.

Believing in the other two statements will allow us to pick us choose what parts of the Bible we want to follow. We cannot choose which instructions to follow and which instructions to skip when we want to assemble something. No, all the instructions have to be followed in its context.

In the same way, God the Author of Life has given us an instruction manual here on earth to follow for our well being. It is the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation for us to follow.

We cannot follow the Bible or take a stand on our own without the help of the Holy Spirit. Allow the Lord Jesus to help you to take a stand for Him, for He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, guiding and leading you! Yes, He will!

Now, Jesus knew the importance of baptism so he did not let obstacles stand in the way of getting baptized. In the same way, as you are in school, at home, or at work this New Year of 2012, taking a stand for your faith becomes very important and worth it friend. Yes, friend it is!

You can let obstacles control you or let the Lord of Heaven and earth help you through the obstacles. It starts with taking a stand for your faith regardless of how tough the journey will be. Friend, the Lord will get you through so don't give up regardless of the days that go by!

When you have to take a stand for a particular issue or reason and it glorifies the Lord, may you be given the strength and endurance to come through in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Amen!  Ask the Lord Jesus to reign in your life and He will!

I used to be a columnist for the Pitt News and wrote a lot of columns promoting biblical views on different issues including controversial issues.  At one point, I also broke the number of letters to the editor that came for one column. Instead of letters, other columnists started to write anti-Ramesh columns that were published but the Lord gave me strength to move forward. After a letter to the editor was published that said, "You should not let Mr. Reddy publish Christian columns in the Pitt News. If he wants to proselytize, he should write for a Christian paper.' The more I took a stand for the Lord, the more fierce the opposition became but the Lord brought me through.

Eventually, the Pitt News stopped publishing my columns but the Lord Jesus gave me Pittsburgh Standard that same year to publish for His honor and glory b/c those who started the print edition saw my work in the Pitt News. This came about b/c I never gave up standing up for the Lord even through the ridicule, etc. Now, I am publisher of http://www.pittsburghstandard.com for His honor and glory.

It was not always easy and there were times I did fear for my life when I was getting hate mail but I left my life in the Lord's Hands and continued to do what I felt convicted to do. I am still so thankful for the Pitt News and all the friends I made there :) W/o the Pitt News, there would not have arisen the Pittsburgh Standard.

You too maybe facing a similar situation of ridicule, fear, shame, etc but don't give up. Instead, let the Lord Jesus strengthen you and help you to take a stand even if it means you will face hardship. But when you take a stand, take it in love and not with a holier than thou attitude. Jesus showed humility no matter what stand He took and we should do the same.

We cannot on our own without the love of the Lord and His strength permeating in us. As we turn to the Lord, He will give us the strength. May we always put Jesus Christ first taking a stand for Him in our family, in our career, in our academics, job, etc. Whatever the outcome, we would have taken a stand for the Lord of the Universe. Help us Jesus!

"Savior’s Truth Apply Now Daily!" (S.T.A.N.D)/”What do you S.T.A.N.D for in life?”

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I thank you so much for being my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you for setting an example for us to follow. I thank you for the commitment you have shown and I pray that we will be committed to you. Help us to testify to you and point others to you, taking a stand on issues that you want us to be bold and faithful. We cannot on our own and need your help so we seek you Lord with our whole heart. Help us Jesus please. Thank you Lord. Thank you for being baptized to identify with humanity even though you did not have to. I love you Jesus and I turn my life over to you. Please Lord help each student and non-student to take a stand for you. Guide them and strengthen them through their experiences on campus, at work, at home, or wherever they are placed. I thank you Lord Jesus for hearing our prayer and answering us. We depend on you for your help and thank you for loving us, dying for us, and coming back to life choosing to save us as we turn to you! In Your Name I Pray Jesus!!! Amen!