Rescue from Above

Isaiah 31: ⁴ This is what the Lord says to me:

“As a lion growls,
    a great lion over its prey—
and though a whole band of shepherds
    is called together against it,
it is not frightened by their shouts
    or disturbed by their clamor—
so the Lord Almighty will come down
    to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.
⁵ Like birds hovering overhead,
    the Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem;
he will shield it and deliver it,
    he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.”

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“How are we going to make it to the bus?” I thought. I mean there were gang-bangers everywhere this day. One of my classmates, who lived in the neighborhood, whistled a very distinct whistle. Suddenly I noticed the gangsters retreat.

• There were times when it seemed like this is going to be “it.”
• There were times when it seemed like the situation could not get any worse.
• There were times when it seemed like I was going to meet my demise.

Still frightened, I stepped outside with my friends. We walked safely to the bus stop and amazingly got on the bus without harm. Our classmate knew the thugs and with one whistle, told them to retreat. We were watched over.

• GOD says to me “I AM watching over you on a daily basis even when you don’t feel it.”
• GOD says to me “I AM the almighty and I will do battle for you.”
• GOD says to me “I AM rescuing you every day so do not be afraid.”

Looking at the problem too long makes me frightened. I mean as I stare at the calamity, I am no longer looking at GOD. HE is the one who shows me the way. GOD put my classmate there, at the right place, at the right time. GOD watches over me daily and I praise HIM!

• Are you scared?
• Are you frightened?
• Can you put your trust in GOD rather than your knowledge?
• Won’t you stop fighting GOD by spreading your ways and follow HIS?

Take GOD’s advice

Genesis 4: ⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

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“One day I will knock that guy out” I thought to myself.  After a lot of weightlifting I did get big enough to fight the guy, but it took time to transform my scrawny into brawny. I had actually matured enough to realize fighting doesn’t solve everything.  But I still wanted to hit him!

• There are some things people do that make me angry.
• There are some actions people take that make me livid.
• There are some ways people go that drive me to rage.

Anger is a very dangerous beast.  It sets a fire in my soul that ignites a battle between me and that person. But little do I know that while I’m fighting that person, I may also be fighting GOD.

• GOD says “rule over” my anger because sin is not far behind it.
• GOD says “Do what is right” because HE knows how to reward me.
• GOD says “you will be accepted” to me if I focus on HIM.

Sin is always waiting to jump on me.  It hides behind arguments, jealousy, lust, envy, insecurity, doubt and fear.  GOD wants me to control my actions and focus on “what is right” to follow HIM to a better place.

• Are you angry at someone?
• Is rage building up in your soul?
• Can you take control of your anger and focus on what GOD wants you to do?
• Won’t you give that person the gift of mercy and grace?

Hate is such a strong word!

1 John 2: ⁹ Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.

¹⁰ Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. ¹¹ But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

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If there is one thing I can’t stand, it’s a bully. I mean it seems like I have run into them all my life.  I mean there was the guy in fifth grade and there was another in high school and some more at work only they bullied with words. 

“I just HATE them” is what I felt so I began pushing back.  I mean bullies aren’t going to push me around anymore! I lifted weights to fend off the physical bully, and learned snappy, cutting retorts to slice down the political bully. Soon I found myself going after these bullies because I could stand toe to toe with them.

• Mild forms of hatred turn into large forms of hatred with me.
• Mild forms of hatred are disguised in me as “things I don’t like” about that person.
• Mild forms of hatred expose themselves when I could care less what happens to the person.

Even when I isolate myself or segregate myself or even separate myself from them it still doesn’t seem to work. I still think about them and stew over what they have done. I don’t want them to have mercy, BUT GOD does.

• GOD wants me to love people, especially my enemies.
• GOD wants me to love people, even those who are difficult to love.
• GOD wants me to love people, ignoring their sin to win them over.

It is not GOD’s wish that anyone perish so why do I give up on that person so easily? GOD desires that I have patience with them because HE has patience with me.

• Do you dislike someone?
• Is there someone in your life who just makes you sick?
• Is there a popular person who you just rile about?
• Can you turn your thoughts into positive ones for “that” person?
• Won’t you try to understand GOD’s love for you AND “that” person?