Stepping Stones: What Are You An Activist For?

Transformational Thought

We seem to be living in a me-first era. People exercise less restraint over their impulses and do whatever gives them immediate satisfaction, without regard to the consequences of their actions. These consequences have harmful effects on other people and our surroundings.

The positive effect of this me-first mentality, we live in a time when people are activists and standing up for all sorts of causes. We have people standing up for the rights of dogs, dolphins, eagles, deer, elephants, and almost every animal. We have people standing up for trees, the ocean, deserts, the ozone, swamps, and creeks. We have people standing up for choice of religion, sexual orientation, political party, and choice of wearing clothes or going nude. We have people standing up for everything imaginable, and even being willing to die for their cause.

I love my wife and kids and would fight to the death if someone were attacking them. David knew what was worth standing up for as he spent much time praying to, learning from, and trusting in God. David couldn’t stand to hear Goliath blaspheme his heavenly Father he loved so dearly, His true and living God. Without fear or hesitation, and with great confidence, David was ready to stand up and fight the mighty, giant warrior everybody, even Saul, feared. Why? Because David knew God stood up for him all the time, and later his messiah, Jesus, would make the ultimate stand for him.

Isn't it time that we, as Christians, stand up for our Creator and what He stands for? We don’t need to be belligerent or mean-spirited, our goal is to act and speak boldly with a Christ-like heart. But we can’t be worried about the consequences, even if it means our death, or job loss, or loss of a friendship or even a relative. To David, standing up for God was a no-brainer. What about you?

Today, stand up, be heard and don’t be ashamed of the truth, which is found in Christ… no matter what the consequences! Be a Lighthouse, speak the truth excitedly and boldly thru your actions and attitudes. If it is a testy situation, speak calmly, with motivations consistent with revealing God’s love and compassion, but don’t be afraid to stand up clearly for our Savior and His name. Your decision, choose well!

Prayer
Dear Father God, even though I don’t express my thanks and gratitude very well with my actions, thank you so much for standing up for me when you didn’t have to. Thanks for bearing my burden for me. Draw me closer to You today, and make me more passionate for those around me. Help me to love You more than myself, so I will die to myself, take up my cross, and follow You. Help me see You clearly, and not be so deceived by my fear of other’s opinions or consequences, so I can stand up for You. Give me the strength and the words to stand up for You. I pray in the name of the One who laid on a cross for me, my Savior Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!

The Truth
“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
Mark 8:38

Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
Acts 5:41

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16