STAND UP FOR JESUS

Through the centuries the Lord’s church has been ripped and torn by enemies of the truth … and it is a shameful fact that many of God’s people stand on the sidelines, refusing to stand up in defense of what they know is right. It is not that they agree with the false teachers, but they are unwilling to “fight the good fight of the faith” (I Tim 6:12). Is it cowardice? Lack of concern? Position? Social pressure? None of these is acceptable to God. During the Civil War, James Russell Lowell wrote the famous lines that speak to every elder, preacher and member in today’s church. Hear his words: “Once to every man and nation, Comes the moment to decide, In the strife of truth with falsehood, For the good or evil side…” When Deborah and Barak led God’s troops in battle against King Jabin’s hordes, the cowardly brothers of Meroz refused to take up arms. “Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of Jehovah … because they came not to the help of Jehovah” against this mighty enemy (Judg 5:23). Like an eternal monument, these words proclaim their shame. Will you endure as a good soldier (2 Tim 2:3)? Stand up for Jesus!! Ask for Lowell’s complete poem.

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