Psalm 5:5 English Standard Version (ESV) The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.

At the end of yesterday’s devotional could we hear a song from our youth? “Stand up, stand up for Jesus.” In our youth it meant one thing and now it means more.

Since we were talking about righteousness as being a right standing before God then perhaps it is right to speak to the issues of why we stand in His presence.

Isaiah 45:23 English Standard Version (ESV) By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

On the surface of this passage it seems that standing is the wrong position but in actuality what we are doing or about to do determines whether we kneel or stand. We kneel to make a vow of allegiance, we stand to take orders. Standing is a posture of readiness to move, to walk, to march, and to be in the Way.

Psalm 1:1 English Standard Version (ESV) Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

The wicked will give counsel, but we should obey God and not heed those counsels. Taking a seat and sitting is an indication that the scoffers have something worthy of hearing and that we allow those thoughts to fester in our minds.

Mary sat at the feet of Jesus while her sister Martha toiled in the kitchen. Jesus declared that Mary was doing the only thing that was needed, to hang on every Word of Jesus.

Needful is a personal issue as it indicates what is good for our souls. The Master does not give orders to servants that are not equipped properly to serve His needs. Standing in His presence is an indication that we are prepared to obey His commands.