Daily Devotional: BE!
Day 29: Be Steadfast
I checked the Merriam-Webster Dictionary Definition of the word steadfast, and it says:
1. A: firmly fixed in placce, Immovable
B: Not subject to change
2. Firm in belief, determination, or adherence: loyal
The Definition of Loyal:
- Unswerving in allegiance: such as
- Faithful in allegiance to one’s lawful sovereign or government
- Faithful to a private person to whom faithfulness is due
- Faithful to a cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product
2. Showing loyalty, for example: a loyal friend
The Apostle Paul uses the term, to stand firm. Once you know and believe the truth God has given you, be immovable, steadfast, loyal to it, and stand your ground as peacefully as you can.
1 Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
King David sang about being steadfast in Psalms 51, and 57, and the Psalmists reiterate this sentiment in Psalm 108 and 119.
King Solomon continues the legacy by teaching his son the same principle in Proverbs 4:26
“Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.”
The Prophet Isaiah reminds us in chapter 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
1 Chronicles 12 is an amazing account of the loyalty of the people who supported King David.
He notes in verse 33, that the “men from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000;”
Undivided loyalty! They could not be intimidated, bribed, threatened with their lives, or thwarted — they followed David, and protected him, and fought alongside him, for the kingdom God had given him.
It is this kind of tenacious loyalty, this steadfast and immovable faith, that God is looking for. We follow Him with unswerving faith, standing firm on the words He has personally promised us.
When Satan tried to bribe Jesus in the wilderness with short cuts to His destiny, Jesus turned him down.
Matthew 4:8-10
8 “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
When Satan tried to talk Jesus out of going to the cross, by speaking through Peter, Jesus looked right through Peter at the being standing behind him, and said, Get behind Me, Satan, for Jesus was impenetrable! Jesus was protecting Peter.
Be so loyal to Jesus that the devil can’t use your mouth for any reason.
And look at the reward for loyalty to the kingdom God ordained:
Let us look at what made Zebulun unique.
In Genesis 30:20, Leah, his mother, blesses him at his birth with these words:
Then Leah said, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun.
In Genesis 49:13, Moses pronounces the blessing over Zebulun, saying:
“Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon.”
And in Matthew 4:15-16, Jesus blesses Zebulun with the light of life eternal as the reward of the steadfast and loyal to God.
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
King David prayed, in Psalm 23:4, undaunted and not one bit intimidated by his persecutors:
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Even though we all go through hardship at times, we are on the Rock, Jesus Christ, Who is our Immovable Foundation, from which we cannot be shaken when we remain in Him.
Remember Jesus’ Own words in Revelation 3:11.
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
