If I were to ask you to give me
some characteristics of someone who is brave, what would they be? Probably some
of your answers would consist of fearless, strong, bold, courageous, and I am
sure the list could go on. When I think of someone brave I naturally think of
someone willing to run toward danger. But
what about a person who runs away from it? That kind of person would be called a coward.
And often this is true but sometimes running away is not only the best thing
but the only thing you can do. If you look at Proverbs 5:8, 1 Corinthians 6:18,
2 Timothy 2:22 you will see that these passages along with many other passages
say that we are to run from anything impure and unwholesome.
When it comes to sin, God’s plan for
you is to run as far from it as you can possibly get. In Genesis 29:1-12 we see
the story of Joseph, a man with an incredible story. God takes a bad situation
and does amazing things with Joseph’s life.
In chapter 29 we find Joseph being tempted by Potiphar’s wife and if you
know the story you know that this temptation was not fleeting but was
persistent. Potiphar’s wife would not take no for an answer. She kept on and on until the point where
Joseph had to make a choice. His choice was to either give in or run away,
there were no other options. Joseph chose to run away. For Joseph running away was not the easiest
choice. His decision to run came with a price. He was thrown into jail. But what I love about
his story was that he was more concerned with doing what was right than he was
with the price.
As great as this story is, the Bible
is full of many about people who should of ran but did not. For example Samson,
David, or even Solomon, all amazing men with incredible abilities and talents
who chose to stay instead of run paid a price for their choices. The truth is
the only way to truly defeat sin is to stay as far away from it as possible,
which is not easy. Joseph so wanted away from the sin that was in front of him
that he was willing to run down the street naked. So the question I have for you today is what
is it in your life that you need to run away from no matter the price.
Running away may not seem like the
brave or courageous thing to do but when you run what you are doing is admitting
weakness. Sin makes you weak and today God is calling you to run to run as far
and as fast as you can from what makes you weak to the only one who can make
you strong. If Samson the strongest man
in the world couldn’t defeat sin, if David a man after God’s own heart couldn’t
defeat sin, or if Solomon the wisest man in the world couldn’t defeat sin, do
you really think you stand a chance? Today is the day to flee from what is
making you weak. So the question is are you ready?
Brad Snipes, Middle School Youth Pastor
