Flee
Fleeing to Yosemite for a 9 year anniversary.
I had a haunting dream the other night related to a teen being lured into a compromising situation. Possibly the dream was prompted by praying for teens in my area attending Homecoming or a prayer request from a professional friend who shared she had been placed in an awkward, possibly compromising, situation at work and had to set boundaries to protect herself.
"Flee from sexual immorality." 1 Corinthians 6:18
"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." 1 Corinthians 10:14
"So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." 2 Timothy 2:22
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7
Sitting with a friend, looking out at the lake last week she shared about a marriage class she's been involved in at her church. She chucked how she and her husband were by far the oldest participants. As they listened to these young couples and all they are up against she said to them, "I'm so, so sorry for what we've allowed to happen in this country."
The responsibility which she took hold of convicted me. It's so easy to turn from the destruction and assume someone else will step in and keep our nation from moral decline. Where have our voices been? Subdued is the word coming to me....overcome, quieten...bring under control by force.
We've allowed our Judea Christian values to be subdued and we should be remorseful.
How do we impact and invest in the ones who are coming after us?
Are we apathetic and fleeing a crucial responsibility to train up the next generation?
Have we grown weary, thrown up our hands assuming someone else that connects better to them will make a difference?
Are we intentional to enter into their culture, build relationships, listen to them and speak truth?
Are we faithful to pray for God to turn back the hearts of his people?
The prophet Elijah knew the people of Israel had strayed from God's ways. He challenged them saying "How long will you go limping between two different opinions?" 1 Kings 18:21
He called out to God...
"Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back." 1 Kings 18:37
