Stand firm

Today I was reading in the book of Ezra. God's people are rebuilding the temple, but the unbelievers of the day don't like it one bit. They are fearful of God and don't want to see the temple building progress at all. My Bible provides a side note that just lept off the page at me today.

It says:
"Chapter 4 describes three different strategies used to hinder God's people...
1. Offer help that will lead to compromises or even a complete takeover of the project by unbelievers.
2. Discourage, frighten and frustrate God's people.
3. Use official power to force them to stop their work."

It is interesting to me to see the progression used here by the unbelievers. They begin by acting as a friend...they want to help, but in effect they want to take over. They want their say. They want their way.

Next, when that doesn't work, they decide to take a more blatant approach by trying to discourage, frighten and frustrate God's people with the hope they eventually abandon the project.

When that still doesn't work, they call upon the government to lay down an official decree against the project.

It is interesting to see how this can play out in our own worlds. Have you ever had someone offer help with something you are doing for God, only to realize they had no true desire for God's work? I think this can also present itself in the age-old saying of "Well, we all believe in the same God right?" even when you know their beliefs are vastly different from yours. The Bible warns us to be careful of this tactic and stand firm in our faith in the one and only Lord Jesus Christ.

Then the frustrating and discouraging. In our adoption journey and work for the Lord, we have seen that time and time again. People give us the "Why on earth would you do that?" look. Some even voice it. Some try to out right discourage what we know the Lord is calling us to do. It is fear on their part. They are walking by sight, by circumstances, by fear. We have had to stand firm. Stay true to God's call on our life. And choose over and over again not to be discouraged, not to cave in, and to just walk by faith and not sight.

Finally, there is the strategy of  force. I have seen this first hand in my career. People who do not believe, who do not want to see the kingdom of God progress, have forced the issue of  open beliefs on our campus. They have tried to equalize the playing field through policy and procedure.

But you see, we must hold firm and cling to the promises that God gave us....HE HAS WON THE BATTLE. His son came and died. We just celebrated his human arrival in a manger. In April we will celebrate his death and finished work on the cross.

Stand firm my sisters! Don't let these strategies get to you. Don't be discouraged. Don't be fearful. Don't succumb to force. God is God and He has the throne!

"He is good, his love to Israel endures forever." 

Ezra 3:11