Safe

Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man. Luke 21:36

As I continue through my study of Luke, remember that Jesus had just spoken about some disturbing times that were coming in the future and also about His return at the end of time. Then He encourages them to be alert and prayerful about what was coming, that they may have the fortitude they need to meet each situation.

At first when I read the verse, it surprised me that He was so clear in His instructions: “You are my disciples and I’m telling you ahead of time that bad things are going to happen. I’m not rescuing you from the bad this earth has to offer, I’m equipping you with a way to deal with it. Remind your thoughts to be aware, to look for these terrible times. They will come. PRAY…ALWAYS….that you will have strength through it all.“

What a fabulous verse for today. Jesus wants us to come to the Lord for everything we need to face. He wants us to come safely through it. We do so by listening for the voice of God (He is my lighthouse, the light that leads me to my safe place). We are saved by following His instructions (Safe doesn’t always mean that our lives are spared. Safe may mean that we are coming to join Him).

This week, a visual came to mind. I saw myself among a group of people and something evil was coming towards us. There were children around me, and I had a choice to fling my body over as many as I could to save them. Would I do it? Would I lay down my life for them?

You say, “Of course you would? The question is rhetorical!“

I’m going to be very honest.

But, typically, I am slow to react. Most things going on around me aren’t followed by an immediate response or action. I’m not an ER kind of person who can access facts and act at the same time.

In the above scenario, I would hope that without blinking an eye I would just go for the children without even thinking about it.

Yet, I am weak and don’t always understand the urgency of the situations accurately. I NEED the Lord’s mindset and His wisdom to know what I would do in an event like that or what to do in my every day life.

It’s one of the reasons why the verse meant so much to me. I don’t have to rely on myself in these days of trouble. I don’t have to be smart or intelligent enough or some know-it-all. I don’t have to be physically capable or spiritually profound or emotionally 100% always solid. I just have to be willing to ask for HIS strength.

God does His best work when He is allowed full access to work in my weakest moments.

That is a marvel to me.

Would I save the children? Yes! God, if anything like that were to ever happen, HELP me to think fast and do the right thing.

In the meantime, Father, I pray that you would give me a sharp awareness of your presence in times of trouble. I come to you in prayer to ask for your help and strength to get me safely through the tough circumstances of life. I depend on you. May it be to me as you have said. In Jesus name, Amen.