^“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. Spending time with the Lord Jesus is so important for Him to guide and lead us in taking the right stand in life.

As the Summer of 2016 is almost 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 to the negativity that prevails around you. You can overcome and become a beacon of light to those around you as you depend on the Lord Jesus Christ!

Yet friend, you can! You can take a stand! Yes, you can! But it starts with Jesus Christ and the principles of His Word revealed through the Gospel! Friend, more than anything, we should take a stand for Jesus Christ in our lives.

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. Thank you Jesus! Jesus will help us take a stand for doing what is right when we yield our life over to Him.

It is to save us when we turn our lives over to Jesus and take a stand for what Jesus stands for. We can know what Jesus stands for by reading His Word, meditating on it, and following it.

Friend, there will be those that tell you that this is the 21st century and the Bible is outdated but it is not friend.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 only make us pick and 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!

As the presidential election nears, we all will be faced with making a stand for what we believe is the right thing to do. Let our decision be based on taking a stand for what is biblical in issues such as sanctity of life, sanctity of marriage, etc.

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!

You maybe asked to take a stand that you alone are supposed to do just as Queen Esther was chosen to free the Jewish people from the evil clutches of Haman. She fasted, prayed, and decided to take a stand against evil when even she knew her life could be at stake.

For you your life may not be at stake, but your career could, your family could, etc. With the Lord's help and your love for the Lord will help you through the obstacles to be commitment as you walk and talk with Jesus daily. Thank you Jesus. Come as you are and find help at the throne of grace for als your needs. Praise the Lord!

Before the semester ended, I met an instructor of mine who told me something to the effect that these days no one participated in class like I did. The class had to do with law & morality. Whether it was concerning abortion, homosexuality, etc, I also spoke up against abortion, homosexuality, etc defending morality even if I was the only student speaking against them because I wanted to take a stand. My stand was based on Biblical principles. These days we are so afraid of 'what would other people would say or think of us' even if we are speaking the Truth from Scripture in love. That is not taking a stand.

What Jesus did should motivate us not to be silent but speak out without worrying about the obstacles that may come our way whether it is losing a job, being ridiculed by our peers, etc as long as we speak the Truth of the Word of God in love.

Taking a stand does not just have to do with moral issues but in our daily lives too!

I love how my loving wife Chandraleela used to get up at 3:00 a.m. to spend time with the Lord Jesus when she had to be at work at from 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. She did not think to herself, 'Ouch, I have to work a 12 hr shift everyday so I need all the sleep I can get'. No on the contrary, she knew how important it is to start her day by spending in prayer to the Lord Jesus and reading/meditating on His Word. It is her commitment and love for the Lord and the stand she has taken for the Lord Jesus that drew me to her in our courting days.

When I think about taking a stand, I cannot also help think about what Dan Cathy from Chick Fil A has had to endure when he took a stand for the biblical definition of marriage. He did not let all the negative comments sway him from turning back.

In your life, it may not be to the level of what Dan Cathy had to do or I had to publish time after time but each of us are faced with choices each and every day on doing what is right. We need to go that pathway no matter how hard the obstacles seem depending on the Lord.

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.

What about you friend, are you willing to give up your life for Jesus Christ, your job for Jesus Christ, your sleep time, etc?

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 will you take a 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 about 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!