There is much we can learn from the honorable service members who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers in Washington, D.C. These men don't run from their duty even when a storm is coming or upon them. They are there to weather through whatever may come their way. They stand steadfast and immovable to their duty. This is not just while they are at their post. These service members are expected to conduct themselves by the most strict and rigorous guidelines even on their personal time. They do so in honor of the remains they protect, those that could not be identified who lost their lives for the freedom and rights of our country.
The Lord has commanded us to be just such an immovable force in our faith. In 1 Corinthians 15:58 it is written, Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Staying focused on the Lord and doing His works keeps us focused on what is most important our love for God and our willingness to follow Him even in the times of storms. Our continued faith and discipline to follow is our labor, or work, through the storm. It shows that we will trust the Lord no matter what the circumstances.
Joshua 1:19 states Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Just as the services members battle the rain, snow and ice with courage and commitment, we must weather our own spiritual storms with a matched strength, courage and commitment in our faith of God to see us through it. These storms will come we are told in James 1 of the trials, temptations and test that we will go through, but it is how we respond that matters the most.
In 2 Timothy 2:12 we are told to endure and we shall reign with Him. It reads; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, he also will deny us. It is important that in the midst of any and all storms that we show endurance that when things get bad and we think that can't get any worse, but yet they seem to anyways, we cannot give up on God, He did not give up on us. This is seen in the crucifiction of Christ. Had God given up on the people he would not have sent his son so that we could have salvation from the sins that we have committed. Just as the servicemembers who guard the tomb see it as an honor and privilege no matter the conditions, we should see our relationship with Christ in that same manner. By having endurance and taking a stand in our faith shows that we honor what Christ did for us.
But how do we stay strong, courageous and steadfast in our faith? through prayer. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 So we are not to worry about the storm but turn to God in prayer and request humbly with thanks our request. However, we must remember that our timing may not be the timing that God has for us. We must not waver as we patiently wait for the storm to move past.
If we look at the story of Peter in the Sea of Galilee when Jesus has asked the disciples to meet him at a later time and when they begin to sail a great storm comes through. Even though Peter and the other disciples had done as Jesus told them to they were still faced with a storm. Jesus told Peter to trust him and walk out on to the water. At first he stood but then quickly sank when his trust in Jesus wavered. We do not want to end up in the water but have the ability to walk on it through our trust in the Lord.
The Lord has commanded us to be just such an immovable force in our faith. In 1 Corinthians 15:58 it is written, Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Staying focused on the Lord and doing His works keeps us focused on what is most important our love for God and our willingness to follow Him even in the times of storms. Our continued faith and discipline to follow is our labor, or work, through the storm. It shows that we will trust the Lord no matter what the circumstances.
Joshua 1:19 states Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Just as the services members battle the rain, snow and ice with courage and commitment, we must weather our own spiritual storms with a matched strength, courage and commitment in our faith of God to see us through it. These storms will come we are told in James 1 of the trials, temptations and test that we will go through, but it is how we respond that matters the most.
In 2 Timothy 2:12 we are told to endure and we shall reign with Him. It reads; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, he also will deny us. It is important that in the midst of any and all storms that we show endurance that when things get bad and we think that can't get any worse, but yet they seem to anyways, we cannot give up on God, He did not give up on us. This is seen in the crucifiction of Christ. Had God given up on the people he would not have sent his son so that we could have salvation from the sins that we have committed. Just as the servicemembers who guard the tomb see it as an honor and privilege no matter the conditions, we should see our relationship with Christ in that same manner. By having endurance and taking a stand in our faith shows that we honor what Christ did for us.
But how do we stay strong, courageous and steadfast in our faith? through prayer. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 So we are not to worry about the storm but turn to God in prayer and request humbly with thanks our request. However, we must remember that our timing may not be the timing that God has for us. We must not waver as we patiently wait for the storm to move past.
If we look at the story of Peter in the Sea of Galilee when Jesus has asked the disciples to meet him at a later time and when they begin to sail a great storm comes through. Even though Peter and the other disciples had done as Jesus told them to they were still faced with a storm. Jesus told Peter to trust him and walk out on to the water. At first he stood but then quickly sank when his trust in Jesus wavered. We do not want to end up in the water but have the ability to walk on it through our trust in the Lord.