Escaping for Life

Matthew 2: ¹³ When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

¹⁴ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, ¹⁵ where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

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“Shoot him” were the words I heard as I dashed to the safety of the bowling alley. Our instincts had kicked in and standing to fight an outnumbered crowd was not the option for me or my friend. After waiting a while I could hear something that said “go check on your friend now, he is safe.” I found him and we went home together.

• There have been some very dangerous times in my life.
• There have been some times that I have faced some extreme life threatening situations.
• There have been some moments when I did not think I would make it.

“Fight or flee” comes to mind when faced with danger. I chose to flee that time and hoped for the best. Looking back on this extreme situation I could only see one thing, GOD.

• GOD protects me on a daily basis.
• GOD protects me from those who try to harm me.
• GOD protects me in extremely dangerous situations.

Since GOD has a plan for me, HE wants me to continue so HE protects me to fulfill that plan. HE guards me from dangers I am not aware of and for that I am eternally grateful.

• Are you mad about something?
• Do you feel upset?
• Can you stop your anger for a moment long enough to praise GOD for HIS protection?
• Will you thank GOD for HIS wonderful plan for you?

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?