Stand Upright On Your Feet

If you will leap for joy, you must first stand.

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Acts 14:10 – . . . Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

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In the scenario unfolded in our Text for Today, we see a lame man healed.  We see similar scenarios as Peter and John go up to the temple for the hour of prayer and passed by a lame man at the gate Beautiful; the palsied man carried by four and let down through the roof before Jesus; blind Bartimaeus; the man with the withered hand; the man at the pool of Bethesda; and others.  In each instance, the person in need was required, at some point in their healing or deliverance, to stand.  There is a great deal for us to learn from each of these scenarios.  Go back again to our Text for Today in your Bible and read the story.  Paul perceived that the man who would ultimately be healed had faith to receive it.  Jesus saw faith in the men who tore the roof away and in Bartimaeus to whom Jesus said, “According to your faith be it unto you.”  The man with the withered hand had to be obedient to the Lord’s command to “stand forth” and “stretch forth your hand,” and act in faith.

My friend, do you believe God and His Word?  Are you willing to instantly obey whatsoever He says to you?  If you do believe God, and if you are willing to instantly obey His bidding, then whatsoever you need is waiting for you to “stand upright on your feet” and walk in it.  Think about what I am writing.  To walk on the water, Peter had to stand upright on his feet.   To follow Jesus, His disciples had to stand up-right on their feet.  To seat and feed the multitudes, the disciples had to stand upright on their feet.  When Jesus sent His disciples out two by two, they had to stand upright on their feet.  To see the salvation of the Lord, Moses had to stand upright (and still) on his feet.  And Paul writes to us, declaring, “having done all, to stand.”

So, think for a moment; what do you need, or what is it you are called to fulfill?  If you are prevented in some way by circumstances of any kind from fulfilling your life in Christ, stand upright on your feet.  If you have been sent by the Lord, stand upright on your feet.  If the waves are high, stand upright on your feet.  If your ankles need strengthening, stand upright on your feet.  If you’re in the fire, stand upright on your feet.  If there is a world to be reached, stand upright on your feet.  And in all your standing, be prepared to leap for joy.

Manna for Today – Acts 14:8-18; Acts 3:1-8; Psalm 37:23; Psalm 119:105; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; Ephesians 6:10-18