Be Steadfast

“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.” I Corinthians 15:58 (ESV). Learn to be steadfast.

Background

Confession time – I do not have a whole year of blog posts written and scheduled to be published. I don’t have a set topic and date I will write about that topic. I do have some thoughts and plans of what I will write about for the year. (I shared my 2021 here.) I want to continue to be seeking God and asking, “What do you want me to write about now? What do I need to hear? What do my readers need to hear?”

So at the end of January, I was beginning to think about the topic for February. I knew it was going to be a be topic. I thought about Be Loving but it is February everyone is into that topic. I considered Be Forgiving but didn’t think that was the topic. I thought about Be Content but wasn’t quite ready as I have a resource I want to create for that topic. I even thought about Be Grateful even though it is not November. Then the words came, Be Steadfast.

Yes, that is the topic. I wrote those words on the top of my planner page. I did not realize just how much I would need those words that very day. As the day went on my pain, became greater. (I have had pain in my since for the past month my doctors are all aware of it and I have a CT scan scheduled but until then.) I need to be steadfast in what I know about God.

I need this topic and I think it is one that each of us needs.

What does Steadfast mean?

Steadfast is one of those words that we read in the Bible but we don’t use it very much in our conversation. So what does the word mean? Dictionary.com gives these definitions – Fixed in direction; steadily directed, firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment; unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence, firmly established, firmly fixed in place or position.

The picture I get is the big boulder and is not going to move. It is steadfast and unmovable. I think of someone who is focused on the direction and goes that way no matter what comes along. It should be in the direction of loving and obeying God.

Why is it Important to Be Steadfast?

James talks about this a bit in the first chapter of James. He is specifically talking about doubting but if we are doubting we are not steadfast. He gives the picture of a wave of the sea just tossed by the wind first this way and then that way. There is no direction. To be steadfast is to have direction.

To be steadfast is to have confidence in who God is and what is truth. We need that confidence as Satan and the world are trying to pull us away from the truths in God’s Word. Satan sneaks bits of doubt into our lives just like the serpent did in the Garden of Eden. He is trying to get us to doubt God.

Learn to Be Steadfast

Be Steadfast in God’s truth. We need to know God’s truth which means his promises, his character, and his words. This requires that we spend time in God’s Word, do a Bible study on God’s promises, read a book about his character, and just read the Bible. This is exactly what I needed that afternoon when the pain increased. I needed to look at God’s faithfulness through this past year. He has brought me through major surgery, chemotherapy, and slowly my body is healing. I needed to be steadfast in God’s truth.

Be Steadfast in God’s calling for you. Each of us has a different calling in life. My husband and I were called to go overseas but that is not what God is calling everyone to do. It might not be something big like that but if we are not steadfast we will get swayed as someone shares a new program they are joining, a method of doing something, etc. Be confident in what God has called you to do. It might not look like others but it is what God is calling you to do.

Be Steadfast in doing good. James writes, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27 (ESV)Doing good is one of the biggest impacts that we can have on those around us. Think about how much you are encouraged when someone does something good for you. You can do that for others. Doing good can also be a testimony to the world that needs to hear the good news. Over the past year, our church has supportive and helpful in so many practical ways. As I have talked with medical personnel, even the local government office, neighbours, and others I have shared how our church has helped us. The world needs Christians to do good reflecting God.

What helps you to remain steadfast? Leave me a comment below.

 

This is part of the series Learning to Be, developing the inner character for growth.

Be Ready for the Year