Happy Friday, everyone. In a world where truth is often twisted, where morals shift with cultural wind and standards are redefined by popular opinion, it’s easy to feel like you’re standing alone when you choose to stand for God’s truth. But I want you to be encouraged this weekend. God’s standards have not changed, and they never will. In fact, listen to how the Scriptures describe those who choose to live by other standards.

It says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20) The world today celebrates what God calls sin and mocks what God declares righteous. It’s definitely not a new problem, but it’s still a serious one because God doesn’t negotiate with sin.

He doesn’t evolve with culture. His word is firm, eternal, and trustworthy. In fact, the Scripture describes His Word as “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” (Psalm 119:160) The Apostle Paul further paints a vivid picture of what happens when people abandon God’s standard. In Romans 1, he describes a world full of chaos where people no longer acknowledge God and instead give themselves over to every kind of evil.

And here’s the most chilling part of what he describes – they not only do these things, they approve of those who do. Sound familiar? But here’s the good news – though we’ve all failed to meet God’s standard, He made a way for us to be made right. Not by our efforts, but through Jesus. The Scripture says, “For as by the one man’s disobedience, the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s (Jesus’) obedience, the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19) Jesus didn’t lower the standard to save us. He met it perfectly and then offers us His righteousness as a gift. That’s grace. That’s love. So as you go into your Friday and into your weekend, don’t be discouraged by the shifting standards of the world around you.

Instead, cling to The One who never changes. Hold fast to His word. Let your life reflect His holiness and not the world’s confusion. Because when we stand on God’s standard, we’re not standing alone. We’re standing with Him.

Prayer
God, we thank You for Your steadfast righteousness, even though, because of our own sinfulness, at times we bump up against that righteousness, and we often try to negotiate and manipulate and find another way.