Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. —Ephesians 6:13
I have shelves full of books. But in order to keep my books standing, I need to have a set of good bookends. Recently I was contemplating the things that help a Christian to keep standing. What are those “bookends” that help us stand firm amidst the ups and downs and various stages of life?
Two specific bookends come to mind: gratitude and hope. God’s Word commands us to be thankful at all times (1 Thess. 5:18). As His children, we can be grateful for His salvation and His daily blessings.
Secondly, we can hope in His promises for our life here and now and for His grace to come. He has guaranteed us an eternal future at His side, enjoying delights forever—a world where there will be no more tears or pain, where sin will no longer have victory over us. When we stack our lives between these bookends, we will be able to stand firm no matter what comes.
Make it Personal
Do you have these bookends in place in your life? What changes do you need to make to stay upright and firm in your Christian life?