Over the past year we have all experienced the rise in the emotional temperature of our nation and our world. The Gallup organization reports that sadness, anger, fear and stress have soared to record levels around the globe. Unquestionably, the COVID-19 crisis has been a great contributor to the rising tide of those emotions, but it has not stood alone in that distinction. In our nation, political and social upheavals have added to the mix in unprecedented ways, and the economic disruption that has resulted from all of the above has added significant fuel to the fire. If we were to lay a snapshot of January 2021 and January 2020 side-by-side there would be no mistaking the enormous changes we have all experienced in these last twelve months.
Today in the U.S. we inaugurated a new president and vice president. The atmosphere surrounding those events looked very different from anything we have ever before seen. Our “peaceful” transition of leadership, though characterized by a message of unity, was scarred by razor-wire and an unprecedented security force of police officers and soldiers. Regardless of our political persuasion, we pray for our new leaders as they step into their respective roles in these unparalleled days. We pray that the days ahead will be characterized by peace, sound wisdom and an earnest effort to do what is best for our nation. We pray that all of us – people and leaders alike – will truly endeavor to move forward guided by truth, genuine compassion, and regard for one another. We pray that the year 2021 would not be characterized by sadness, anger, fear and stress, like its predecessor, but rather joy, charity, forbearance and respect.
But here’s the thing – only light can defeat darkness, only truth can defeat lies, and only true love never fails. There is only One who can provide that kind of light, that kind of truth and that kind of love. It doesn’t come from any man, or any leader … or any of us. One night as He was leading His disciples from the upper room to the Garden of Gethsemane, He led them through a vineyard. Jesus was the Master Teacher. He always knew the best illustration with which to make His point. He directed His disciples’ attention to the vineyard that surrounded them and said, “I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. You are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit – but apart from Me you can do nothing.”(1) Those words are as true for us today as they were for that band of disciples.
The apostle Paul wrote, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these…. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control….”(2) Paul was talking about the Spirit of Christ who dwells within us and fills us if we are abiding in Him, like those branches into the vine. If we would see enmity, strife, et al truly defeated that can only occur in and through the Spirit of Christ.
But Paul was also reminding us that the fruit of the Spirit can still blossom in the midst of the “works of the flesh.” Even when we are surrounded by strife, fits of anger, et al the fulness of His fruit of love, joy, peace, et al can still be evidenced in and through our lives. Even when darkness and sorrow come into our midst in an effort to rob us of our joy and our peace, they cannot prevail if we are abiding in Him, and He in us. We can stand sure and remain unshaken.
The writers of the song, “Stand in Your Love” (complete lyrics below) said it well when they wrote:
When darkness tries to roll over my bones
When sorrow comes to steal the joy I own
When brokenness and pain is all I know
I won't be shaken, no, I won't be shaken'Cause my fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your loveShame no longer has a place to hide
And I am not a captive to the lies
I'm not afraid to leave my past behind
Oh, I won't be shaken, no, I won't be shakenThere's power that can break off every chain
There's power that can empty out a grave
There's resurrection power that can save
There's power in Your name, power in Your name
Let us stand in His love. Let us not be blinded by the darkness that is around us, but guided by the Light that is before us. Look to the One who endured the cross, despised the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.(3) Because fear and strife don’t stand a chance when we stand in His love.
* * * * *
(1) John 15:1, 5 (ESV)
(2) Galatians 5:19-23 (ESV) – words emboldened to add emphasis
(3) Hebrews 12:2
Photo by Michal Parzuchowski on Unsplash
Stand In Your Love
When darkness tries to roll over my bones
When sorrow comes to steal the joy I own
When brokenness and pain is all I know
I won't be shaken, no, I won't be shaken
'Cause my fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
Shame no longer has a place to hide
And I am not a captive to the lies
I'm not afraid to leave my past behind
Oh, I won't be shaken, no, I won't be shaken
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
Oh, I'm standing
There's power that can break off every chain
There's power that can empty out a grave
There's resurrection power that can save
There's power in Your name, power in Your name
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
Oh, when, when I'm standing in Your love
Oh, my fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love
Oh, I’m standing in Your love
Oh, standing on the rock
Oh, I am standing, standing in Your love
Songwriters: Ethan Hulse / Josh Baldwin / Marcus R. Harris / Rita E Springer
Stand in Your Love lyrics © Essential Music Publishing, Bethel Music Publishing, Music Services, Inc