When Running Is Fighting

²²Run 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.-2 Timothy 2:22 (NLT)

     Temptation comes to us all. We all have those temptations that are so powerful in our lives, if we are not careful, we will give in to them and fall into sin. Therefore, stay away from what or who you know tempts you. And when you find yourself right in the middle of a temptation to sin, Run!  Yeah, Run! Get out of the situation! When tempted God will provide a way out. When he does, we need to take it.

¹³The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are ^htempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.- 1 Corinthians 10:13

      God has given us  weapons to beat temptation such as His Word, Prayer, Worship, and community. But there will be times when temptation is so strong that all he wants us to do is get away. Turn the tv off, get off the computer, or get out of a conversation. Just Run!  Look at the Story of Joseph and the Potiphar’s wife:

⁸But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household.⁹No 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 ^bsin against God.”¹⁰She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible.¹¹One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work.¹²She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.-Genesis 39:6-10

    Like Joseph, we will find ourself in the middle of temptation and we need to respond like he did. He knew sleeping with her was a sin against God, and when the heat got too hot he didn’t debate her about if it right or wrong. He ran. He left with his integrity in tact, even though she would go on to lie about the situation. So, there will be times when running is the best way to fight temptation. And I’ll end with this point: Don’t go through this life without community. We are called to walk this Christian life together. I’m learning this for myself. We stand a better chance against sin when we have a group of people around us loving us and holding us accountable. Ask yourself some tough questions like:

What do I need to Stay away or run from?

Do I have people in my corner helping me fight the good fight of faith?

 Remember these words : Run! Run! Run!