At Gettysburg, on July 1, 1863, the 16th Regiment of Maine held off repeated assaults by the Confederates. General Robinson ordered the 16th of Maine to remain behind to allow the rest of the division to escape. Colonel Tilden of the 16th protested because he knew his men would be slaughtered. But General Robinson persisted ordering the men of the 16th to “hold at all costs.” Colonel Tilden told his men, “You all know what that means.” By the next morning, the regiment of over two hundred men had suffered an eighty-three percent casualty rate. But they followed their orders to stand fast.

To “stand fast” means to “hold something unyieldingly, or to refuse to budge.” It is noteworthy how many times the Apostle Paul instructed the saints to “stand fast” and in what ways they were to do so. The Philippians were told to “stand fast in one spirit…striving together for the faith of the gospel; and in nothing terrified by your adversaries…” (Philippians 1:27-28). Strong opposition arose nearly everywhere Paul went to preach the good news of eternal life through faith in Christ. It was true for his converts too. These believers needed to band together and stand uncompromisingly for the clarity of the gospel without being intimidated by persecution. These same believers were urged to “stand fast in the Lord” (4:1). Internal strife within the church had produced self-conceited attitudes that had damaged their unity (2:2-4; 4:3). They were to keep their eyes on the Lord and strive to reestablish harmony by embracing the kind of humility the Savior demonstrated by dying for our sins. The believers at Thessalonica had suffered severe persecution for their faith (I Thessalonians 2:14-15), and Paul feared their “afflictions” (3:3) might cause their walk with Christ to wane. He told them, “For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord” (3:8). He would be encouraged and they would persevere if they remained unmovable in a close relationship with the Savior. Paul wrote these same saints saying, “…brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” (II Thessalonians 2:15). As it is today, a danger persisted for these believers that they might drift from the exclusive doctrines of grace given from the Lord and through the Apostle Paul. But they must not. They must stand fast!

In our daily battle against Satan, these are still our commands from our Supreme Leader, the Lord Jesus Christ. Stand fast at all costs.

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In the book The Telling Room author Michael Peteniti shares the true story of a very old woman who walked from her home to the cemetery and back every day. Rain or shine, she walked up the hillside every day to spit on her archenemy’s grave.

Christians can be just as eaten up with bitterness, but we must not be. Ephesians 4:31 urges believers to “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger…be put away from you, with all malice.” When bitterness has grown in our souls, we need to allow the Lord to produce the acronym of H-E-A- L-I-N-G within us. Healing begins by Handing over the offender to the Lord. Romans 12:17 tells us, “Recompense to no man evil for evil.” It may not be what our flesh wants to hear, but only the Lord has the right to take action against the wrong doer. Healing continues when Emotions are given to God. Philippians 4:6-7 promises that when you let your “…requests be made known unto God…the peace of God, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Regardless of our circumstances, when we pray, God can heal our hurting emotions. Healing comes by Accepting the consequence of our hurt. Romans 8:28 promises, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God….” Our omnipotent God is able to take the worst of circumstances and bring good to our lives as an end result. So, trust Him. Healing comes by Looking for God’s Lesson in our trial. Paul tells us while in his worst persecution, he learned,“…that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God…” (II Corinthians 1:9). When trials come, look for a spiritual life lesson. Healing can be achieved by Investing in the wrongdoer. Admittedly, this is a hard one. Romans 12:21 tells us to “be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” It helps you refocus and helps soften the wrongdoer. Healing is improved when we Note our responsibility to forgive the offender. Colossians 3:12-13 urges believers to “put on…mercies, kindness…longsuffering…even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Healing is complete when we choose to Go on with life without remaining paralyzed. Reliving hurtful events, or refusing to move forward with life, only deepens the wound in our spirit. Therefore, Colossians 3:15 counsels us to “let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called….”

Let the Great Physician heal your heart by applying these principles.

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One of our relatives had a cat that ran away when you tried to pet her. But before long she would crawl on your lap, purr, and give every indication she now wanted you to pet her. Yet, if you reached out to pet her, the cat would hiss at you and often bite quite hard. It was a confusing and frustrating mix of fickle affection and hostile reactions.

The saints at Galatia acted no better. When the Apostle Paul came and “preached the gospel” (Galatians 4:13) to these believers, he did so “through infirmity of the flesh.” We assume Paul came to minister to them after enduring either the stripes, stoning, or beatings he described in II Corinthians 11:23-25, which he often suffered while being persecuted for preaching Christ. Though he came to them in weakness, he said they did not despise or reject him. He said, they “received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus” (Galatians 4:14). In other words, their response was overwhelmingly receptive. In fact, they were so appreciative of his ministry to them, “if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me” (vs. 15). But their affections changed. When false teachers came into their midst seeking to place them under the bondage of the Mosaic Law, they embraced this false teaching. Paul sought to reason with them. He explained that the Law was a burdensome curse if one did not keep “all things…written in…the law…” (Galatians 3:10). He further explained that God only intended the Law to serve as a “schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ [in saving faith]” (Galatians 3:24). But when Paul explained this good news that Christ had liberated all saints in the Dispensation of Grace from the Law of Moses, he had to ask them, “Am I…become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16). Those who had once loved him with such sweet affection had now turned on him in hostility. The believers in Corinth were no better. Even though Paul had led them to faith in Christ, they later questioned his apostleship and became fickle in their affection toward him. With sorrow he told them, “…the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (II Corinthians 12:15).

Have you also become fickle in your affection and appreciation for someone who shared the gospel or right division with you? Choose to let God change that pattern beginning now.

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The “United States v. Wilson, 32 U.S. 150 (1833), was a case in…which…George Wilson, was convicted of robbing the US Mail…and sentenced to death.” Due to his friends’ influence, Wilson was pardoned by Andrew Jackson. Wilson, however, refused the pardon. The Supreme Court was thus asked to rule on the case. The decision was that if the prisoner does not accept the pardon, it is not in effect: “A pardon… may then be rejected by the person to whom it is tendered; and if it is rejected, we have discovered no power in this court to force it upon him.” Therefore, Wilson was hanged.

When the Scripture says that, “…God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them…” (II Corinthians 5:19), He is informing us of two things. He is telling us that Christ’s wonderful payment for sin, or provision for eternal salvation, has been made and is now offered to all mankind. God is not saying that all the sins of all mankind, including the lost, are already forgiven. Long after the Cross, the Apostle Paul describes the natural state of all mankind as “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1), “under sin” (Romans 3:9; Galatians 3:22), and “dead in your sins” (Colossians 2:13). He goes on to say the natural man is “inexcusable” (Romans 2:1), and warns unbelievers that “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Before God will pardon one’s sins, the sinner must see himself as “guilty before God” (Romans 3:19) and believe that he can only be “justified freely…through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). How is a sinner redeemed from the eternal consequence of his sin? It was not applied, or imputed, to all at the Cross, even though the payment for sin was made by the Savior at Calvary. The imputing of each individual’s sins to the Savior is only “…upon all them that believe” (Romans 3:22), or trust, in Christ alone as the payment for their sins. Christ died corporately “for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:2), but His payment is only applied individually to them “that believeth [or trust] in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). But, like George Wilson, if the pardon offered by Christ is rejected, it is a pardon not received.

Make your presentation of the gospel clear. Show lost souls that God offers them forgiveness of their sins if they will trust in Christ.

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The 2016 College Football National Championship was won in dramatic fashion by the Clemson Tigers. As time ran out on the clock, jubilant pandemonium broke out among Clemson coaches, players, and fans. When interviewed by television crews immediately after the game, Clemson coach, Dabo Swinney, said he simply had no words to describe his joy over the win.

The books of Psalms and Philippians emphasize that the believer should remain in a constant state of rejoicing. Our joy should be rooted in things far more lasting and important than any athletic championship. The Apostle Paul’s letters reveal what Christians should be focusing on as their source of joy. Paul told the saints at Corinth, “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity…we have had our conversation in the world…” (II Corinthians 1:12). A clean conscience about living a godly life before others brought him joy. Paul also told them, “…we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus” (II Corinthians 1:14). At this time, the Corinthians found joy in their relationship with Paul who had ministered God’s Word to them. These believers, who Paul led to the Lord, were a great source of joy because they represented great eternal reward. Paul said he chose to “…rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). His assurance of one day beholding the glory of God, and also being glorified with Christ, as is further explained in Romans 8:17 and Colossians 3:4, brought him great rejoicing. Paul had learned to “rejoice with them that do rejoice…” (Romans 12:15). When other saints rejoiced over victories or blessings in their lives, he allowed it to likewise bring him satisfying joy. Paul wrote that his response was that: “… if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all” (Philippians 2:17). It was no drudgery for him to sacrificially serve the needs of other believers; it was a deep-seated pleasure. Perhaps most importantly, Paul learned to “…rejoice in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 3:3). This implies he found joy in the Savior’s holiness, humility in coming as the Son of Man, loving sacrifice for our sins, continuous longsuffering grace, and much more.

Likewise, may we choose to rejoice in these eternally-important things and place them in higher esteem than the fleeting things that captivate the hearts of many.

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Would you want to be the President of the United States? Those who assume this office do so knowing they will become a spectacle to the world. Every word and every decision will be scrutinized. Even their family members will be targets for criticism. The schedule is taxing, and the responsibilities so grave, that stress causes each president to age prematurely. Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama are examples. Yet despite the toll of the office, many seek this position out of love for our country and willingness to serve.

Those who purposely serve the Lord also do so knowing they too will become a spectacle to the world. It has always been this way. God instructed the prophet Hosea to “…go take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land [the nation of Israel] hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord” (Hosea 1:2). Everyone would know the heartache and scandal in the life of this servant of God. The Lord instructed Isaiah to disrobe, “And he did so, walking naked and barefoot… three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia” (Isaiah 20:2-3). As embarrassing as it was, no one who saw this prophet of God could miss his message from the Lord. Similarly, the Apostle Paul described his life by saying, “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last…for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men” (I Corinthians 4:9). The apostles were willing to look like “fools,” be “weak” (vs. 10), to “hunger” (vs. 11), to be “reviled” (vs. 12) and “defamed” (vs. 13), for the cause of Christ. We should not think that putting themselves in these positions was any easier than it would be for us. But these men of God willingly embraced their scrutiny, criticism, humiliation, and stress out of love for the Lord Jesus Christ, and a firm commitment to further His cause.

How about you? Are you willing to become a spectacle for Christ? The Apostle Paul told the believers at Corinth that they were an “…epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men” (II Corinthians 3:2). God has called every Christian to share the Gospel of Grace with lost souls and warn them about eternal punishment. Then we are to live a consistent godly life, knowing those we seek to reach will be watching us. We must not shrink from being a spectacle for Christ. We must willingly embrace it.

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