The Stability of a Saint
“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” - James 1:8 (KJV)
When you think about the word stability what comes to your mind? Maybe you are a fiscally focused person so you set things in place that you believe that will reward you with financial stability. If you regularly visit your relationships it is most likely that you intentionally invest in those relationships for stability. I believe that stability is an essential element in a relationship because stability provides legitimacy and longevity in sound relationships.
Stability is defined as enjoying (steadiness, firmness of purpose, not likely to give way, firm, fixed, not likely to change). Stability stands in stark contrast to the double-minded man described by James. He reminds us that when we park between faith and unbelief, we are double-minded which means we are unstable.
Question: If we were to visit your spirituality would there be enough support that would substantiate the statement that you are a stable believer?
Here are some solid signs of a stable saint. Stability is evident in our spiritual walk when:
1. You exhibit sincere and consistent service to God as opposed to yourself.
“Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him” - Deuteronomy 6:13 a (KJV)
“And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul” - Deuteronomy 10:12 (KJV)
2. You have a desire to share the Good News with purpose, persistence and passion.
“He that wins souls is wise.” - Proverbs 11:30 (KJV)
“And he said unto them, ‘Go ye unto all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth shall not be damned.” - Mark 16:15-16 (KJV)
3. You exhibit a legitimate and luminous light of the Lord and His Lord in your life.
“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” - Proverbs 4:18 (KJV)
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” - John 13:34-35 (KJV)
4. Holiness is exhibited by your nature (Holy Spirit) and not by your practices.
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. Because it is written be ye holy; for I am holy.” - 1 Peter 11:15-16 (KJV)
5. You are no longer subjugated to your passions but the spirit of God.
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” - 1 Corinthians 9:27 (KJV)
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” - Galatians 5:16 (KJV)
6. You enjoy a big picture perspective in pain and trials
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” - James 1:2 (KJV)
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” - 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (KJV)
7. You are willing to wait on God.
“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” - James 1:4 (KJV)
“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD” - Psalm 27:14 (KJV)
8. You seek the Lord for council.
“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” - Proverbs 2:6 (KJV)
While these signs are not an exhaustive list, we should give strong consideration to these evidences of stability. A saint that is devoted to stability will be able to display consistency in our witness to a world that is united in instability, insecurity and indifference to an Infinite God!
Not a Sermon But a Thought,
PBKSR