Escape

John 10: 31 – 39, Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, "Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?" The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods"'?  If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him." Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand. NKJV

Let’s begin today by giving thanks to the Lord for the wisdom He reveals so that I can share His truths with you daily. Our heavenly Father loves us so dearly; therefore, He seeks out ways to encourage and bless us. Will you take a moment and praise God for His goodness in your life?

If you read John 10 in its entirety, you will see that Jesus uses the term “Father” when speaking about God to the Jews. However, in response to Jesus declaring that He is the Son of God, the Jews wanted to stone Him. Now let’s bring us into the story. There are trials and threats that we often have to face as a Christians. Nevertheless, when trouble invades our lives, what is our response? There is a term commonly used for the behavior that people exhibit who feel in danger; it is called, “Fight or flight.”

Do you try to hide or run from trouble? If so, then let me share a truth with you that can break that “fear of man” off your heart and life. You are a child of God, and He has given His angels charge over you. You’ve been bought with the blood of Jesus, and Satan can’t do anything to you without God’s permission. If God allows trouble to disrupt your life, then it’s there for a “good” reason. Anything that God does or allows to come our way is for our good (Romans 8: 28).

Now, let’s focus on Jesus and His response to the threats that were made on His life by the Jews. Jesus never ran in fear; neither did He try to fight to preserve His life. Instead, He stood His ground with them and told them the truth. Therefore, we are to imitate the Lord when we are being threatened with harm. Once again, if God has allowed someone or something to threaten us with harm, then He has a plan to help us escape. However, we must let our stand of faith speak to those who want to harm us.

After Jesus spoke the truth to the people, John tells us that the Jews sought to stone Him once again. However, Jesus escaped out of their hand. Paul tells how God makes a way of escape for us during temptation in 1 Corinthians 10: 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. NKJV

Whenever you and I find ourselves in a dangerous situation, it is human nature to want to do something in order to defend “self.” Nevertheless, God is our heavenly Father, and if we’re living for Him, we are supposed to place our trust in Him for protection and deliverance from our troubles, when He is ready. So the next time you find yourself being threatened, remember to look to the Father, instead of trying to fight or run. God wants you to be still and obey His will during the trial.

Although the flames may burn hot around you, God won’t allow them to burn you. Therefore, you will need to exercise patience and longsuffering while you wait on God’s plan to unfold. As you set your heart to obey, God will give you the grace to continue standing while under the pressure until it’s your time for promotion. When His will is fulfilled in you and in the situation, God will make a way of escape, and you won’t have to deal with that enemy again. Why? You overcame it; now it’s a defeated foe. Ain’t God good? Save this devotion in your favorites so the next time the enemy tries to intimidate you into fighting for yourself or running away in fear, you will have these truths to help you stand in faith until…

Waiting on God to Make a Way,
Pastor Asa Dockery