"This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God." Genesis 6:9
While the Pittsburgh Steelers football team, at the request of the head coach Mike Tomlin, remained in their locker room during the national anthem Sunday, Alejandro Villaneuva stood alone. Right hand over his chest, this offensive lineman and former Army Ranger, was the only member of his team to stand for the Star-Spangled Banner, confirming what he vowed to do last year when the protests first began, "I will stand very proudly and sing every single line of the national anthem every single time I hear it. I will stop whatever I’m doing because I recognize I have to be very thankful to be in this country."
You know, it's not easy to stand up for what we believe in-especially when those around us don't believe the same. Noah knew that all too well. In a world where sin had become the norm and people were rejecting God, Noah was known as "a righteous man." In fact, Noah was "the only blameless person living on earth at the time." Talk about standing alone! And while you can be sure that he felt immense pressure to "blend in" and "fit in" with those around him, he was a man who wasn't afraid to do what was right. And why is that you might wonder? Because "he walked in close fellowship with God." The Lord was his best friend and his only ambition was to please Him-no matter the cost.
Of his faith, Villaneuva said, "If you're right with God, everything else is fine; if you're not right with God, everything else is out of place. Being connected with God is the most important thing there is." It's no wonder then that Alejandro stood alone. In a world that pressures us to blend in more each day, will you do the same? Are you willing to stand alone?
Heavenly Father, thank you for the people in this world who are not afraid to stand alone to show that they will not compromise their faith for anything. Help us to be those people who are walking so close in fellowship with you that we might also be able to "stand alone" and show the world what a true follower of Jesus Christ looks like. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
I stand for you - Tree63
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