Ruuuuuuuuun!!!

That is to say, RUN!

There are situations where we must choose.

Choose what?

Holiness or sin.

Right or wrong.

Yield to temptation or run from it.

If you've had these, you know the pressure and stress that come with them.

Some may never face these choices because they do whatever they want.

"Sin is old fashioned."

"Live and let live."

"I'm not that bad. I know what's right."

Do we want to follow the Lord Jesus Christ Matthew 4:19; John 10:27; 21:19 and His holy way of living? Matthew 5:8; John 8:12; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16 

Someone said, "I know I need to get into that book if I'm going to mature."

He spoke of the Bible as "that book." 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

so that the man [any person] of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Paul wrote that his ministry partner, Timothy, knew the Scriptures from a young age.

From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15

IF we'll READ, Psalm 119:99; Colossians 4:16; 1 Timothy 1:13

LISTEN to, 1 Thessalonians 5:27; Rev. 1:3

and STUDY the Bible, Acts 17:11; Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:24; 2 Timothy 2:15 

what might happen?

It could INFORM Psalm 119:30 and CHANGE us as we do what it says with the Lord's help by His Holy Spirit. Matthew 7:24; Romans 8:13-14, 29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; James 1:22 

We can also be made wise. Psalm 19:7; Proverbs 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 2:6-7, 13  

Then, we can RUN when we need to.

A preacher said,

"The Bible is a two-edged sword. It cuts you going in and heals you going out."

Paul wrote that the word of God is the sword of the Spirit. Ephesians 6:17

James wrote to believers,

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. James 1:21-22

Jesus said,

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24

But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. Matthew 7:26 

WHEN IS IT TIME TO RUN?

The Old Testament's Joseph had to choose.

So Potiphar [an Egyptian captain of soldiers who had bought Joseph as a slave] Genesis 39:1-2 left all that he owned in Joseph's care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,

and after some time his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, "Sleep with me."

But he refused. 

"Look," he said to his master’s wife,

"With me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care.

No one in this house is greater than I am.

He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife.

So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?" Genesis 39:6-9

When any sin that we might consider doing, whether premeditated for 2 seconds or 2 months, is seen by us as "such a great evil and sin against our Heavenly Father," then to RUN from it should be easier, don't you think?

To escape a temptation to sin is a wonderful victory.

Although Potiphar's wife spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be near her. Genesis 39:10

Sometimes we have to avoid being near another or in a particular place to avoid sin.

One day, however, Joseph went into the house to attend to his work, and not a single household servant was inside.

She grabbed Joseph by his cloak and said, "Sleep with me!"

But leaving his cloak in her hand, he escaped and ran outside. Genesis 39:11-12

Paul wrote,

Flee [run] from sexual immorality. 

Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.

And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Paul also wrote that to covet, to desire something or someone that isn't yours, to be a greedy person, is idolatry. Exodus 20:17; Romans 7:7; Ephesians 3:5

And that greed, a love of money, is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:14

PRAY

Can we pray so that we DON'T DO EVIL? 2 Corinthians 13:7

Jesus said,

"Watch [stay alert] 1 Peter 5:8 and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.

For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Mark 14:38

Jesus taught His disciples to pray,

"And [Father v.9] lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:13

And He prayed for them and those who would believe in Him later, John 17:20

"I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one." John 17:15

TO RUN or HIDE CAN BE WISE

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1

To leave a dangerous situation, whether to avoid physical harm or temptation to sin, doesn't mean that you're weak spiritually.

Jesus told His first disciples,

"When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next.

Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." Matthew 10:23

When the wicked come to power, people hide themselves;

but when they perish, the righteous flourish. Proverbs 28:28

To hide can be a defense.

When someone wants to enter your space and you see danger there, you can slip away to hide.

Or don't open the door! Proverbs 2:16; 5:1-10

For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter;

He will conceal me under the cover of His tent;

He will set me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:5

You are my hiding place and my shield; I put my hope in Your word. Psalm 119:114

The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Proverbs 27:12

Paul mentioned his escape [he RAN] from persecutors through a basket. Acts 9:23-25; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33

The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles. [Paul and Barnabas Acts 14:1]

But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them,

they found out about it and fled [they RAN] to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region,

where they continued to preach the gospel. Acts 14:4-7

"LORD, HELP ME."

It may be the best prayer when we face evil. Ephesians 6:10-13

The Lord Jesus Christ was tempted in all points as every human, yet He didn't sin. Hebrews 4:15

He knows that our bodies are weak. Matthew 26:41

He knows how to relieve us when we're tempted. 

For this reason He [Jesus] had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.

Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:17-18

And sometimes, He may shout, 

"Ruuuuuuuuun!!!"

Your thoughts?

R. Jason