February 05, 2010

Run! Or Retaliate!

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts – 2 Timothy 2:22(NLT)

There are three dimensions of temptations. The first one is “Test” are from God. When God tested Abraham and asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac as a burnt offering at one of the mountains in Moriah (Genesis 22), Abraham obeyed. The second one is “Trial.” This is from satan. Remember Job obtained clearance from God to try Job. The third kind is “Trap.” This is someone invites himself out of lust. Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:14, 15). We will discuss about this dimension of temptation, “Trap” in this devotional. As you can read in 2 Timothy, Paul is addressing to his spiritual son, Timothy about how to be a good soldier fighting the spiritual warfare for Christ-sake (Verses 1-14). Later part of this chapter, Paul giving tips to Timothy as how to serve God as an approved worker. As you can see, Paul first encourages his co-worker to have a good standing in the Lord like a good soldier who will obey the authority and keep on guard against enemies attack. Later, he is telling now you are ready to serve God but still you have to have to have victory in certain critical areas (in which many spiritual giants fail), like lust, integrity in word and deed and so on in order to be an approved worker of God. This victory can come through the power of the Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul suggests a strategy to flee from evil. He says in verse 22, “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” Paul talks about “Youthful lusts” that describes the kind of desires and temptations that are especially prominent when someone is an adolescent or young adult. Sexual temptation, illicit pleasure of the flesh, and a longing for fame and glory often mark one’s youth and also grown ups. The final weapon satan uses to “clean-bold” (the term used in India’s favorite sport “Cricket” to defeat batsman) Christians is a “sexual sin.” As the whole auditorium watches, how we handle this problematic area. Do we hit a “six” and be victorious or get clean-bold and defeated? That is why Paul says “Run” from the initiator of various sins, “lust.” Paul also suggests this strategy to Corinthians, “Run from sexual sin!” in 1 Corinthians 6:18 (NLT).

We can see how Joseph handled this area of trap in his life in Genesis 39 from verses 7 to 20. When he was bought by an Egyptian officer, Potiphar (captain of the guard for Pharoah, the King of Epgypt), satan tried this trap on Joseph through Potiphar’s wife. She tempted Joseph day after day (Verse 10). I Joseph bent over to this illegal request he might have enjoyed the temporary pleasures of life and probably might have been released from slavery and even got a better pay check. But have missed Lord’s greatest blessing of becoming a no. 2 position of a prime minister of Egypt. He might not have been blessed nor have blessed others. The Lord honors the victories over secret sins. How do we handle our life when we are alone? It can be easy to show ourselves well composed in front of others. The Lord is more pleased in our victory in secret places. Joseph’s runs from her and refused saying, ““Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God (verses 8 and 9).”

During these times learn to “run” or “retaliate (if you are strong in the Lord).” Can you keep your finger on the fire and flame without burning your finger? No…impossible! Playing with sin is a dangerous deal. Remember the Bible says in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.”

Remember Stephen Irwin, nick named, “Crocodile Hunter", an iconic Australian television personality, wildlife expert, and conservationist? He achieved worldwide fame from the television program "The Crocodile Hunter," an internationally broadcast wildlife documentory series. On 4 September 2006, Irwin was fatally pierced in the chest by a stingray spine while snorkeling on a sea coast north of Queensland. While Irwin was filming his own documentary, “Ocean's Deadliest,” he decided to take the opportunity to film some shallow water shots. He swam too close to one of the stingrays. He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart. He was instantly killed while his crew filmed the whole scenario. It is not good to play with dangerous subjects it may be thrilling though at times. Remember always, “Sin” thrills but “Kills”!

Also remember, there is a way out whatever the circumstances may be. There is also an encouragement to those who were trapped in this dimension of temptation. That is “God’s grace” on those trapped. That is through the cleansing with the help of the precious blood of Christ. The blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds (Hebrews 9:14). All one need to do is to confess the sins to our Lord Jesus Christ. We read in 1 John 1:9-10, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

The strategy to be used to stay away from trap, “Run or Retaliate.”!

Prayer: Father, forgive me if these areas if knowingly or unknowing committed in the past. Please give me the ability to run or retaliate, the enemy who is devouring to trap us. I am your child and I know the One in me is greater than the one in the world and with your help and the power of the Holy Spirit, I will prevail.

May you have a Blessed Day!