Recently, I was overjoyed by a lovely surprise visit from my grandson and his wife, both RCMP officers, who drove a long distance to come by with their 11-month-old baby daughter.

As we were in conversation, the baby was crawling on the floor entertaining herself. Unexpectedly, we noticed her standing and holding onto the coffee table. She had figured out how to get up on her feet, but we had missed her standing up on her own. As it was a first-time accomplishment, she smiled a brilliant and victorious smile, as if to say, "Look at me now!" We were delighted.

It didn't take me long to think of the song, Stand up, stand up for Jesus.

Ephesians 6:13-17 – Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (NKJV)

My great-granddaughter's experience is just like when we get up and stand for Jesus! After crawling on the sinking sand of the worldly scene that has nothing solid to offer, when we reach out to Jesus, He lifts us up to stand on the solid Rock of Ages. Our first few steps become many and noticeable in our lives that include the more abundant way, truth, and life.

The Bible that I had on that coffee table now has a new home in my grandson's home, so as to keep it in the family. My dream is for my youngest great-granddaughter to find the Word of God reliable not only to stand on as solid ground but also to use as the double-edged sword of the Spirit.

I picture her standing up, hungry to know more of God and Jesus for herself and desirous of being a sunbeam to shine around this world with the love of God! We love because God first loved us.

Many of us received the faith from our fathers and mothers, soldiers of the cross of Christ Jesus. How important it is for us to pass on the faith to our grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and generations to come!

Prayer: O Holy One, thank You for blessing generations of believers on the way of Jesus — truly the more abundant way. Sincerely thankful, we pray in the only Name given to us in which to pray: Jesus! Amen.

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About the author:

Kirsti Sipila <kirstiksipila@hotmail.com>
Brantford, Ontario, Canada
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