Safe Position

Safe Position

2 Peter 3: ¹⁷ But you, my friends, already know this. Be on your guard, then, so that you will not be led away by the errors of lawless people and fall from your safe position. ¹⁸ But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and forever! Amen.

 

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Being accused of being a “goody” I felt I needed to do something. The accusation made me feel like I didn’t fit in. I decided that sex, drunken parties and foul language as humor would make me fit in. When I got in trouble, the people who urged my change for the worse were not around.

 

• I was doing well then I fell.
• More problems came from trying to fit in that I thought.
• I was in worse shape when I fell, because now I had a reputation that did not look so good and I had problems.

 

Peter concludes his short letter with a warning. He tells everyone to “be on your guard” when it came to taking advice from people. There would be those who prescribe things that sound like “fun” on the surface but will ultimately cause problems in life and threaten a good relationship with GOD.

 

My Observations:

• GOD understands that I am a sinner saved by HIS grace.
• GOD also is perfect and loves when I follow HIS ways as best I can.
• Knowing GOD means I know what to stay away from and that I make my life about HIM.

 

People who seek pleasure as their only pursuit will look at the life of the followers of CHRIST as constraining. I mean, when trying to “do good” in life by not partaking in every indulgence that surfaces, people may complain about your life. BUT GOD sees your efforts.

 

HE loves when I can say “No” to the things that would distract me from serving HIM. There is nothing wrong with some of the stuff the world has to off as long as it does not interfere with GOD’s calling on your and my life or cause us to fall into a worse situation. I am glad GOD gives me freedom in HIS framework of love.

 

Challenge

• What “safe position” is the writer talking about?
• Have you ever fallen and wondered how did you get as low as you got?
• Will you question your own relationship with GOD to see if you and HIM are in “good” standings according to your own desires today so HE can keep you “safe”?

Safe Delivery

 

Safe Delivery

Acts 23: ³¹ So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. ³² The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. ³³ When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. ³⁴ The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, ³⁵ he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.

 

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Feeling uneasy, I went back to the hotel room. I was parting from the company after more than a decade of work there. A new group came in and decided to clean house. I had faced this before, but this time it was different. I feared my physical safety. I was relieved when I was dropped off at the airport.

 

• There have been times when I felt uneasy.
• There have been times when I feared for my life.
• There have been times when I needed protection and did not know where to turn.

 

Paul was surrounded by over 400 soldiers. When they arrived far enough, the cavalry went all the way to his destination, while the other soldiers returned to the barracks. Paul was protected all the way to the next place.

 

• GOD wants me to seek HIS protection.
• GOD says to me “Do not be afraid.”
• GOD watches over me when I am in the presence of my enemies.

 

There is no situation GOD does not know about. It may be confusing or even scary that I don’t know what is going on. BUT GOD does. HE knows the situation and has factored in someone else’s evil in HIS great plan for me. Any robbery of earthly treasures from me is noted by GOD. HE rewards me with heavenly treasures that cannot rot or rust. I place my trust in GOD.

 

• Are you feeling uneasy about your situation?
• Do you feel unsafe?
• Will you continue to put your trust in GOD, knowing HE is the only one who can deliver you to safety today?

Taken to Safety

 

Taken to Safety

Acts 23: ²³ Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. ²⁴ Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

 

²⁵ He wrote a letter as follows:

²⁶ Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency, Governor Felix:

Greetings.

 

²⁷ This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. ²⁸ I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. ²⁹ I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. ³⁰ When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.

 

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“Get in. We’ll take you home” were the relieving words I heard from a friend’s parent. The impending threat of another school coming over to beat us up, alarmed the principal enough to let us out a few minutes early. Since the threat was seemingly real, a ride was truly welcome.

 

• There were times when I faced threats from people I did not know.
• There were times when I worried about my safety.
• There were times when I felt relieved when I was taken to safety.

 

The commander found out about the plot against Paul’s life. He learned that forty men vowed not to eat until Paul was dead. He summoned 470 soldiers to surround and protect Paul as they escorted him out of town. He then wrote a letter to the governor, ensuring Paul would not be turned away.

 

• GOD wants me to know HE provides protection.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS deliverance.
• GOD wants me to understand HE is aware of every circumstance and is in control.

 

Life can be scary on this cursed earth. I mean, even though I believe in JESUS, there are many who do not and will not. My fight is not against them, but the ruler of this world rages war against anyone who puts their trust in JESUS.

 

Many troubles are hurled at me, trying to get me to question GOD’s power and love for me. BUT GOD prevails. JESUS already won the war when HE died and was raised from the dead triumphantly. My time on this cursed world is temporary. I am grateful, one day I will be taken to eternal safety, but until then, I remain as a servant of JESUS.

 

• Are you facing huge problems?
• Is your safety in danger?
• Will you continue to stand firm in your belief in JESUS, knowing HE is willing to send protection to you today?

 

Dear LORD, please protect the reader. Surround the reader with YOUR angels today. amen

Hiding in a Safe Place

Psalm 62: ⁵ Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
⁸ Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.

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Pea green was the color I remember as a child. The first time I watch the clouds go from very dark charcoal grey to a greenish color stayed in my mind. The clouds began to swirl and I stood on the porch and watched as a small tornado began to form. It never touched down but I was fascinated. I saw the sky change again as a teen, then again in early adulthood. The last time I saw the clouds look like that was when I had to tell my family to go in the basement because the twister was definitely on its way.

• There are times in my life where I have had to run for cover.
• There are times in my life that seem like the situation is too powerful for me.
• There are times in my life that seem so overwhelming that all I can do is run and hide.

From childhood I was taught to go hide in a basement or the lowest place I could find when a tornado approached. This form of weather is so wild and extreme and out of control that all I can do is hide, same with life sometimes. Life has a way to seem so wild and out of control that it can feel like a tornado of missed expectations from all sides. Where can I hide when life gets out of control?

• GOD says to me “Come unto ME all of you that are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
• GOD says to me “Look to ME and I will give you renewed hope and peace.”
• GOD says to me “I AM the only fortress, every other shelter will be shaken.”

Reliance on houses, cash, insurance or ability is what causes me to be shaken. When I rely on stuff that could be broken or run out then I feel scared. BUT GOD is never exhausted, never scared, always willing to love me in spite of me. HE knows I forget about HIM when times are good and welcomes me when I run to HIM when I am scared. HE is the best hiding place in the middle of a storm and I can say “thank YOU for whatever the outcome as long as I am with YOU.”

• Are you frightened?
• Do you feel a storm around you?
• Can you relax your thoughts and stop focusing on the problem and focus on GOD’s greatness?
• Will you stop believing the lie that GOD is not doing anything in your life and believe that GOD is blessing you daily?