“A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.” – Isaiah 60:22

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I recently attended a band concert performed by children in middle school, grades six through eight. It was obvious that most of the members were just beginning to learn their instruments of choice. The eighth-grade band was reserved till last, because they were the best.

When the director introduced the band, he invited the audience to join in singing the first piece they would play. When the first note was played, I knew it was our national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner.” I stood up immediately and began to sing the familiar words. Just a few measures into the song, I realized I was the only one standing. I started to blush. It crossed my mind that since I was the only one, I should just sit down. But, No! I resolutely determined to stick it out. Very soon, others began to stand and sing, and by the time we reached the words, “at the twilight’s last gleaming,” the entire audience was on its feet honoring our nation’s struggle for liberty.

Can we be just as resolute in our determination to stand for the Gospel of Christ, even if we are the only one? We may literally be the only one in our family who is serving the Lord, but it is important. Who knows? One by one, some may join us.

When my mother was saved in 1952, she was the only one in her large family who had ever been saved, as far as she knew. In the mid-1970s, some of her children tried to calculate how many had been converted as a direct result of her stand. We counted up to seventy-two! It is far more than that now, because she never stopped standing up for the Gospel. You see, she was resolute!

God honored her, and He will honor us as we stand for Him.