Standing firm in the reign of Jesus

The news commentator said it aloud, “This is scaring me.” You too? As lawlessness escalates around us and tribulations squeeze us personally, our loving God gives us His Word to help us endure, to “courage-into” us with hope as His believing children. 

The whole of God’s Word sheds His light on intensifying darkness, and it’s His gift to help us stand firm, as His beloved in Christ. Where is our reigning Jesus Christ right now? What’s going on right now? Where are we in this grand love story of His kingdom?

Into the upset and scared, God has comforted me as I consider His bigger love story and my part in it. Let’s stand firm in the faith that our great God has given to us and remain in worshipful awe that He is our source for everything (1 Cor. 16:13; Gal. 5:1). How we need His gospel truth right now, particularly as we consider Jesus’ return to righteously judge the unbelieving world!

For we are…

beloved by the Lord, because God chose [us] as the firstfruits to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called [us] through [the] gospel, so that [we] may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

So then…stand firm (2 Thess. 2:13-15 ESV)!

Standing firm in the reign of Jesus

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the LORD and his Anointed One: “Let’s tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us” (Ps. 2:1-3 CSB).

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
does its successive journeys run,
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.

(“Jesus Shall Reign,” Watts, I., 1719)

To him shall endless prayer be made,
and praises throng to crown his head.
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
with every morning sacrifice.

Standing firm in God’s love for me as His child, in Christ

People and realms of every tongue
dwell on his love with sweetest song,
and infant voices shall proclaim
their early blessings on his name.

I will declare the LORD’s decree. He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance and the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with an iron scepter; you will shatter them like pottery” (Ps. 2:7-9 CSB).

Rejoicing in God’s blessing of my safe refuge and forever rest with Jesus

Blessings abound where’er he reigns:
the prisoners leap to lose their chains,
the weary find eternal rest,
and all who suffer want are blest.

So now, kings, be wise; receive instruction, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling (Ps. 2:10-11 CSB). 

Rejoicing with hope in our refuge, the reigning King Jesus!

Behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed (Dan. 7:13-14 ESV).

Let every creature rise and bring
the highest honors to our King,
angels descend with songs again,
and earth repeat the loud amen.

Standing firm as lawlessness increases

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only He who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders (2 Thess. 2:7-9 ESV).

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8 ESV).

[Christ] himself likewise partook of the same things [flesh and blood], that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil (Heb. 2:14 ESV).

He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 Jn. 4:4 ESV).

Singing Christ’s Hope for standing firm in our suffering

I had a mini-outburst recently. As the kids would say, “I am SO DONE” with the lies of the enemy who wants us to cower in fear, to hide and retreat, to wring our hands in despair, to sit in judgment ourselves, to feel defeated when our own sufferings or sin continue, or to think there’s nothing we can do.

I’ve recently realized how much spiritual warfare is going on, as it has since Genesis 3. But God has given us all we need in order to stand firm in this time of suffering…in His Word. For me, singing Scripture and songs that echo its truths is one of His great gifts when the battles rage. It helps me stand firm. If you’re also SO DONE (and perhaps a little scared) and would be blessed by “singing Christ’s hope” into this raging battle, I’m praying the resources below will also be His gift to you! This week’s playlist gift helps us fight with a focus on who we are in Christ and what that means. Let’s sing praise to our reigning Lord and Savior and stand firm!