“Stand Thou Here By Me”

There is a beautiful verse of scripture found in Deuteronomy chapter 5, verse 31, that says, “But as for thee, stand thou here by Me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.” Regardless of the situation around you, the Lord is telling both you and me to stand in that place by Him. It is a place that He prepared for you. It is a place of mercy and grace.

Jesus told His disciples before He went to the cross, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” [The Gospel of John chapter 14, verses 1 & 2]. How deep the Father’s love for us, that He would send His only begotten Son to prepare a place for us sinners, who were lost and away from the godly life He intended? Jesus Christ paid the penalty for every broken commandment, as well as every fault and failure on our part. He bore the shame and the guilt, and the pain of every doubt, as well as all our unbelief that we sometimes just can’t shake. He not only forgave us, and cleansed us from all of that, but He also imputed His righteousness onto us that we might be called the sons and daughters of God!

There is an interesting man in the Bible called Abraham. He was born in the country now called Iraq. The Lord spoke to Abraham one day, and told him to leave his country, and go to a place Almighty God would give him for an inheritance. The Lord also would make Abraham the father of many nations. Abraham believed what God had promised, that He would also perform it. The Bible says that because Abraham believed the Word of God, that it was counted to him for righteousness. He didn’t work for it, pay for it, or even pray for it. Abraham simply believed what God had told him, and the Lord counted that faith to Abraham as righteousness!

The Bible says the same thing about us. If we believe the Lord Jesus died for our sins, and that He has prepared a place in heaven for us, then that faith is counted to us for righteousness! That is why the Bible says the Lord Himself is our righteousness. Knowing how many times I have messed up, sinned, and come short of the glory of God, I thank God every day for the mercy He has shown me. I am called a son of God through the Lord Jesus Christ! He sought me and found me when I was not in a good place in my life. He brought me into His house, and cleansed me and helped me stand, and become the person I desired to be but didn’t know how. He did not give up on me, but worked with me (and is still working with me!). I can say I am an overcomer through faith in Jesus Christ! Those things that so easily beset me, He has strengthened me to overcome them.

How about you? Your victory is found when you stand by Him and believe God’s word that says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” [Isaiah chapter 41, verse 10] He says these words to all who look to Him for help and strength. This includes you who are weary, you who are tossed in the sea of life. The Lord says this to all who look to Him to be saved. Yes, He will save you! He will help you! He will uphold you with the right hand of His righteousness. Put your trust in the Lord Jesus. Look to Him in the day of trouble, and He said He will deliver you! May God bless you today and always!