Daily devotion – Wisdom in conflict.
2 Timothy 2:22
“Run 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.”
I find it interesting that many people who are expertly trained and highly skilled in martial arts or self-defence often say the same thing: the best way to handle a possible physical confrontation is to walk away — to do all you can to avoid it! Wise words indeed.
The Bible gives us a similar strategy when facing temptation. The first step toward victory over sin is not to stand and fight it — it is to flee from it. To physically remove yourself from whatever is tempting you. Flee!
Don’t toy with it in your mind or linger near it in your thoughts. Get as much distance from it as you can. I’ve known people who even changed their vocation to avoid a snare the enemy had set before them — a trap that would have had dire consequences had they remained.
There are times when this is the only way to win.
We see this beautifully modelled in the life of Joseph.
Genesis 39 tells us that Joseph was “a very handsome and well-built young man,” and Potiphar’s wife cast her eyes upon him, demanding that he sleep with her. Yet Joseph refused, saying, “How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”
Day after day she pressured him, but Joseph refused to give in and even kept out of her way as much as possible. Then, one day when no one else was around, she grabbed his cloak — and Joseph tore himself away, leaving his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.
Genesis 39:12 Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.
Sometimes the greatest act of courage is not standing your ground — it’s running in the right direction.