“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)
If Paul made a movie of your life, it would be an action movie. And it would be packed with chase scenes. Of course, in his day the chasing would be mostly on foot. But we can update the story to put you in the vehicle of your choice.
Here’s the question, though. What are you running from and what are you chasing? As with the best action flicks, you’ll have to do some of both. In the early scenes, especially, Paul has you on the run from your own “evil desires.” That would be the stuff you want that will hurt you and those you care about—sex outside of marriage, revenge, way more money than you need, etc.
When you become the hunter, though, you’ll be after serious prey: right choices, trusting God more, true love, and deep peace. And with God’s help, you can catch them and keep catching them right up until the credits roll.
Think: Is your Christian life like a boring, serious movie with way too much talking and not enough going on? What can you do to turn it into an action movie? What should you be running from? What are you not chasing?
Pray: Ask God to help you to want to run faster away from your favorite sins and toward his best gifts for you.
Do: Keep track this week of how many times you feel tempted to sin and—with God’s help—you outrun it instead.