Standing Out from Day One (2 Timothy 3)

An excellent crowd joined us, many for the very first time, for our opening meeting of this new season. We also had the pleasure of welcoming Danny Roberts, no stranger to us, who appropriately considered the need to stand out for Christ from day one.

He began by considering the general opposition of society to Christians. The vast majority of people with whom we share our school, university and workplaces with are not sympathetic to the truth contained in the Bible. So how can we, as Christians, continue to stand strong and speak out for Christ in the environment in which He has placed us?

It won't be easy. As we know from 2 Timothy chapter 3, the days that we live in are inherently evil. Christians, therefore, cannot expect to get an easy ride from those who do not believe. In school particularly, the expectation to conform, to 'fit-in', is very high. Yet choosing, as many do, not to take a stand at the first opportunity we open ourselves up to many and mighty temptations.

We will face trials. We are different. God, in saving us from the punishment of sin, has made us different, and so we know that we will be targeted by some. But this is where we must call upon the weapons that God has given us. We must pray, bringing the challenges of each day to Him and seeking His strength and guidance to face them. Constant communication with God, through Christ, will strengthen our relationship with Him and give us the power of God upon our lives.

It is important to remember, however, that we are weak in ourselves. Yes, with God's strength we can do mighty things, but how often do we try to step out in our strength? It is then that we will fail. The great men of God failed, and we will fail. Peter, when quizzed about his relationship with Christ, profusely denied that he even knew Him. Peter failed - and he knew it! And surely that was it for Peter, his witness had been destroyed, his opportunity to serve Christ had been lost. Likewise, when we fail, it seems like any hope of us being a strong witness for the Lord has gone forever. But that just isn't the case. 

Our salvation, and subsequently our usefulness for the Lord, is not reliant on our good deeds. Not at all. It is, rather, entirely dependent on what He has already done for us. God knows our failings and has forgiven us our shortcomings. He knows we will fail Him, but He has promised to give us new and fresh strength every morning to step out once again for Him.

Peter, in denying the Lord, deserved to be seen as failure in his work for God. The Bible, however, records a very different outcome. Preaching on the Day of Pentecost, in Acts 2, Peter was given the joy of seeing thousands of individuals putting their trust in the Lord. God had a mighty plan for the man that we would have labelled a failure, and God has mighty plans for us.

As difficult as it will be, and regardless of how often we fail, we have a responsibility to stand up and live for Christ. Many of the people we share a bus, classroom or office with, will never have read a Bible. But they will read our actions. They will listen to our words and they will watch how we react in various circumstances. Yes, it is a challenge, but it is also a privilege. The God of heaven, the Creator of the universe, has given us a job to do. What a pleasure to be able to serve the King of kings!

When we think of what God has done for us, sending His only Son, Christ Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins, it is a small thing for Him to expect us to do for Him. Let us all stand strong for Christ, and show Him how much we love Him and how thankful we are for Him choosing to save us.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were an offering far too small.

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.