An offensive tackle could hardly wait until he was put on the line in his first NFL game. In the sixth game of his rookie season, they played a divisional rival against one of the best defenses in the league. The coach sent him in part way through the game.

After a tough series, he came off the field muttering, “I keep getting pushed around!” The coach locked his hands in the tackle’s shoulder pads and shouted, “Well, don’t let him do it.” He took it to heart, made a career of not being pushed around and turned into a Pro Bowl tackle.

The Apostle Paul writes as if his hands are locked on our shoulders: “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith.” If we stand contrary to the values and direction of the culture, we will get some pushback. We live in a time when people are uncomfortable with others having convictions, especially unpopular convictions.

We will be faced with some decisions. Do we go the way of the crowd or stand firm in the faith? Paul is talking about holding our ground on what the Bible says is true.

Standing firm in the faith leaves us with two issues — knowing what we are standing on and deciding we won’t budge from it. We have to be in the Word regularly to get our footing. It takes time and sacrifice.

Something else happens when logging time in the Word — we will grow in our love for Jesus. We will stand firm because of Him, for Him and with Him. We will become more concerned about what He thinks than what others think. That’s a game-changer!

Tomorrow’s entry — what standing firm requires of us.