A way of escape!

A lot of my articles lately have been about movies, I’m feeling a bit like a movie critic. I would love to tell you this article is not about a movie but that would be a lie. I have several questions for you to ponder throughout this one.  I hope not to bore you. I recently watched the Oscar nominated film “ROOM.” It is the tale of a young woman, named Joy, who was kidnapped at age 17 and locked in a shed by her capture for 7 years. Two years in, she becomes pregnant by the kidnapper. She and her son are never allowed outside, they are locked in a fortified bunker style shed that only has one sky light window. Though her capture brings them food weekly and treats every once and again, what he is offering is not enough to bring fulfillment to their lives. Question: Are there things in your life holding you captive, leaving you feeling unfulfilled? She seemed to have given up on escaping. Though she was miserable, she almost seemed content with her life as it was. Question: Are you miserable but settling? Have you given up the fight for better in your life? Finally after seven years in captivity, Joy begins to get sick. She also begins to notice how smart her son is and decides she must escape. Question: What will it take in your life for you to stop accepting the bad and start your fight for escaping to better? Soon she hatches a plan. (I don’t want to ruin the movie so I’ll stop there, rent it- REDBOX  ) I will tell you this she does escape, after a few failed attempts, Joy and her son are finally free from their capture. (The movie goes into much more, it’s a must see!) At any rate my final question for you is this: if you know you are being held captive by something, whether it is; self-hate, a bad relationship, or an addiction, when will you realize there IS a way of escape! 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. Did you read that scripture? God is faithful, and it doesn’t matter what you are facing or what has you captive. Jesus paid the price of our freedom with His blood! So what’s your plan? Will you remain in the stagnate place of captivity and bondage or choose to allow the love Christ to make you free? Think about it!

Faith that doesn't hesitate, like Abraham!

At age 100 Abraham and his wife Sarah welcomed their first child together. I’m sure though they were old they must have been overjoyed to have a new life in the family. The bible doesn’t specify but Isaac was still a boy with God Himself made a request, or requirement if you will, of Abraham. Gen. 22:2 “Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” The instructions were very specific. There was no need to question what God wanted Abraham to do, kill his son. What stood out to me was Abraham’s responses in this text; first there is his initial response to the instructions. Gen. 22:3 “So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.” There is no text between verses two and three, to me this says Abraham did not question God, he did not debate whether he would do as instructed, he did not consult with anyone as to what he should do next and he did not hesitate to obey! How many times have we been given instruction directly or indirectly from God and hesitated to obey, wondered if we heard correctly or asked someone if we should or should not follow through? So Abraham journeyed as instructed prepared to follow through with God’s order. Once they arrived though, Isaac, who had been raised in the faith and I’m sure had been to many sacrifices noticed something was missing and he questioned his father. Gen. 22: 7 Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” But again Abraham does not hesitate, he answers his son in faith Gen. 22:8 “And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” Here we can see that Abraham has taught his son to be obedient just as he is obedient. We know this because Isaac follows his father’s instruction without further question. Finally they arrive at the place for sacrifice and Abraham continues to impress with his unwavering obedience and faith. Gen. 22:8-9 says, “Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” And because of his unhesitanting faith, of course God does what HE does best, He provided for Abraham and spared Isaac. An angel calls out to Abraham and stops him from slaying Isaac, then provides a ram in a nearby bush for the sacrifice. After this, God pronounces blessings upon Abraham and his descendants! I hear people say all the time, “Abraham’s blessing are mine.” Now I want to ask, if you expect to receive the blessings of Abraham, are you operating in non-hesitating faith and obedience as he did? Think about it!