It was Saturday morning and the dog was barking outside. We had no idea why. My niece, Khloe was somewhere around 3 or 4 at the time. She and her family were visiting from Nashville and Khloe spent the night before with us. The dog kept barking. My husband, Robert went to see if he could figure out what was going on. He said, "What is that stupid dog barking at now?"
As soon as those words were out of his mouth, our little Khloe put her hands on her hips, stomped her foot, tossed her head to one side and said rather emphatically, "Hey, Mister! We don't say that right around here!" She was referring to the word "stupid." She had been taught (very well, I might add) that word was a big no-no. One did just did not use that word.
Her Uncle Robert replied, "I think that rule is just supposed to be for little girls."
That did not deter Khloe. She said, "No, Mama said that word was bad for everybody!"
Khloe, as small as she was and as big as her Uncle Robert is, was facing her giants that day and she was undaunted. She had made her stand and dug in. As Christians, we should be ready to make our stand. We are to teach by word and by example what our beliefs are and everyone should know that our beliefs come from the Bible. When I think of this story, I can't help but think of David and Goliath. David was offended by the words of Goliath and how he was defying Israel. I Samuel 17:26b --"for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" We all know the story - he went before the giant with only 5 stones and a sling. But David's courage came because He loved and was devoted to his God. And he could not bear the thought of someone standing up there making fun of his family and his God.
Listen to what David tells Goliath before he kills him. I Samuel 17:45 -46: "Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I willl smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel."
David's courage came from his love and devotion for God. He had a deeply rooted faith that prompted him to stand up for what he believed in -- against all odds, with no fear. Although, it wasn't on quite as grand a scale, Khloe was standing up for what she believed in too. As Christians we are supposed to stand up for what is right. So many things are going on in this dark old world that should offend us; to stand up and say:
please don't say that - or lea
n this dark world, there are so many Corinthians 15:58 tells us "to be stedfast, immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord."
In Acts 4:19 -20 Peter and John told the counsel "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." The apostles stood up for the gospel, even though they were persecuted for doing so. Paul and Silas even sang while they were in prison.
In I Corinthians 16:13 - Paul, through the Holy Spirit, tells us "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." We are told in Ephesians 6:10 to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." and in verse 13 we are told to take "the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
I could go on for quite sometime with scripture reference encouraging us to be strong; to stand for God; and even to count ourselves happy as we suffer for the Lord. Paul referred to devoting his life to Christ as "fighting the good fight." This is something we can do! We will be richly rewarded. God has promised us a home with Him if we take up our cross daily.
It is not always easy, even for adults, to stand up for what we believe in. We might not be afraid of physical persecution, but we might be afraid of being made fun of or of being considered a little nutty for being so zealous. We will stumble and maybe even fall from time to time - but if we repent of our weaknesses and strive to change - Jesus will be there to pick us up, dust us off , point us in the right direction and send us on her way. We can always count on Him. He is our Redeemer, our Savior. He will be the one to say "Well done thou good and faithful servant." Won't it be wonderful to hear those words?
Christ above all things,
Robin
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