By Pastor Dennis Morales
Pastor Dennis Morales
“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong,” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
My 3-year old gave us a huge scare one day when he got lost in Downtown Disney. So we quickly scrambled into action going in his last direction, which was toward a stuffed bear workshop. My wife called out his name, looked around the store, and instinctively ran upstairs to where a birthday party was in progress.
To our surprise, and relief, there was our 3-year old engaged in the party. Within minutes he was wearing a birthday hat, had supplies in hand to build his own bear, had a piece of cake, and was mingling. Our little party crasher innocently blended right in with the little partygoers.
It’s no doubt we live in an “everything but Jesus” culture. I have seen faith-filled friends compromise and buckle to ungodly trends. Trends are enticing, but short-lived. The devil’s tactic is to get you to compromise your personal borders, blend in, and lead you down a path of obscurity and destruction.
It takes courage to faithfully “persevere” in today’s culture. Your strength to stand out in faith in the midst of pressure and difficulty is found in Christ (Philippians 4:13). God is calling you to set the standard and allow people see that Jesus reigns in your life. A spiritual battle ensues, but be courageous and stand firm in faith. The Lord is your shield (Proverbs 30:5).
Calvary Chapel Eastvale meets Sundays, 10:30 a.m., at Clara Barton Elementary (7437 Corona Valley Ave, Eastvale). Visit their website at http://www.CalvaryEastvale.org.
