I think standing is underrated and definitely taken for granted. I probably wouldn’t have said this if I weren’t having such difficulty with joint pain lately in my hips. After a few days of this pain I would rather sit, or complain and cry. I think of those who wish they even had two feet or or two legs to even stand on. I’ve got it good. Really. Makes my pain seem so minor in perspective.

There are a lot of verses I can think of to support standing. Not necessarily just a physical standing position. What I like about it though is that whether I am seated or standing, I can still stand no matter what my situation. The key is, to not ever stand against myself. “A house divided against itself can’t stand.” (Mark 3:25) “Stand” or the Greek word ‘histemi’ literally or figuratively can mean to abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stand (by, forth, still, up). It is an upright and active position (not passive or lying down). A house in this scripture can mean literally a house or even a family. How many families do you know have been torn apart if they have been divided one member against the other?

So, how do you keep from being a house divided? How do you personally keep yourself true to your doctrine that you follow in life so that it matches up with the word of God? Because the moment you step away from what you know to be true in God’s word and start following another path is the moment you begin to be divided against yourself and I promise you, you will not be able to stand, and you will suffer greatly the natural consequences.

Further, in Mark 3:27 Jesus says that no one can enter a strong man’s house and take everything he has unless he first binds the strong man. In this particular passage Christ has been talking about Satan as the Pharisees were accusing Jesus of being possessed of Beelzebul. Jesus is teaching them that no one can enter a house and steal whatever they want unless the person watching guard is some how tied up. Jesus knows it is Satan who binds the strong man and robs him of what he has. Have you allowed Satan to have a foothold and bind you or a member of your family, a spouse, a child, to destroy you or the family unit? If you were alert and watching over the affairs of your home all the time, you would be ready for a thief. But Satan is a liar and a deceiver of the light, so his deception will be very subtle. You will barely recognize it.

The way to “do battle” is to take an alert posture and be active to stand along with putting on the full armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-18, ESV reminds us:

1. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.

2. It is not flesh and blood that we wrestle against, but against rulers, authorities and against cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

3. Take up the full armor so you may be able to withstand (stand against or stand opposed) in the evil day.

4. And after having done all, to stand firm. (Go to this scripture right now and remind yourself of all the armor you will need to stand).

STAND, STAND STAND – don’t let the enemy of your soul have his way in your life or in the life of the ones you love! You don’t have to fight the battle… You have to stand! God says the battle is His, not ours and He has already won the battle for us!

Comic by Willem Samuel