Morning Musing: Stand Up for Jesus!

Recently I attended a women’s conference. The lights were low, worship music was playing. I was sitting with my eyes closed, silently praising Jesus. This nudge from within caused me to open my eyes. I was sitting rather high up in the stadium seating. I noticed the event center had many women in attendance and maybe half were standing singing, while the other half sat. Then a question was asked of me: “Michelle, will you stand up for me?”

I knew who was asking. I answered, “Yes, I will stand up for You.” Then the question came again, but with a new word added, “Michelle, will you stand up for me, now?”

As I looked around me, no one else was standing in this section. Only women far below, those who were closest to the stage where the worship band was playing were standing. But those of us further away were sitting. I wondered why. I normally stand while singing and praising Jesus. I wondered why I wasn’t.

Then I realized I was being influenced by those sitting. God noticed too. When He asked me if I would stand up for Him, it wasn’t just for that moment, but more importantly, for always.

My answer was “Yes! I will always stand up for You, Lord!” To show Him my words meant something, I stood up that very moment, lifted my hands, and praised Him.

I realized something important in God’s question. If we aren’t careful, we can find ourselves easily being persuaded to not stand up for Jesus. It can feel uncomfortable to stand up for Jesus when no one else around us is standing. But we do not need to be ashamed of Jesus or standing up for Him. We do not need to be embarrassed. We need to be willing to stand up and show the world who Jesus is to us.

The world will try to persuade us to stay quiet, to sit, to not stand up. I encourage you today, listen to God’s question to you. I pray you will answer “Yes! I will always stand up for You, Lord! No matter what!”

Scripture:
Romans1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.