In or For?

 June 13, 2023

“Stand fast in the Lord, beloved.” —Philippians 4:1 

It often surprises me how a single word can change the meaning of something, especially when that word is a mere preposition. Without realizing it, for years I have read this verse as if it said, “Stand fast for the Lord,” in other words, “Don’t give up, even in the face of opposition.” This morning, I saw it differently.

I suppose it’s because the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17-19 has been on my mind lately. What has been called “the Elijah Cycle” begins in 1 Kings 17 with Elijah bursting on the scene with these words:

“And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”” —I Kings 17:1

Elijah stood before the Lord. Later, he stands before Ahab the king, and before 450 prophets of Baal. Before he could stand before (or against) the evil powers of this world, he had to stand before God. If you’ve ever wondered why you fall before the temptation to spit out words of anger, to harbor resentment, yield to lust or greed, or cowardice in standing up for Jesus, it may be that you’ve tried to stand up before you’ve stood in the presence of the Lord.

If we want to be able to stand fast FOR the Lord, we must learn what it means to stand fast IN the Lord. For me at least, it means being disciplined enough to not let myself get distracted from my regular time in the Word and prayer. What does it mean for you?