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Jesus Among the walking among the crowd |
Introduction
Have you ever felt a holy tension, a deep sense of knowing that you are called to something significant, yet surrounded by forces that seem to oppose its arrival? This is not a sign you are off track; it may be the very proof you are on it. The life of our Savior, Jesus Christ, models this sacred journey. In John 10:39, we read a powerful snapshot of this reality: "Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp." This was not a one-time event. From Herod’s murderous decree to the repeated plots of the religious leaders, Jesus navigated a landscape of threat with one unwavering conviction: His time had not yet come. He carried the redemption of mankind, and He would protect that purpose until the divinely appointed hour. Your life, too, carries a God-given purpose. This is a call to learn the art of the strategic, spiritual "run", not from fear, but into fulfillment.
The Necessity of the Run: Why Protection Precedes Manifestation
A purpose from God is both a promise and a target. Before it is fully manifested, it must be guarded. Jesus understood this. When His own townspeople in Nazareth tried to throw Him off a cliff, He simply walked through the crowd and went on His way (Luke 4:28-30). When the Pharisees began to plot with the Herodians how to kill Him, He withdrew with His disciples to the lake (Mark 3:6-7). These weren’t retreats of cowardice; they were strategic movements of obedience. The apostle Paul followed this pattern, escaping in a basket through a window in Damascus when his life was threatened (Acts 9:23-25). His work was not yet done.
The enemy seeks to discredit, discourage, or destroy a purpose before it can bear fruit. Your "run" is the proactive, Spirit-led stewardship of your calling. It is the wisdom to know when to stand, when to move, and when to disengage all to ensure that what God has planted within you reaches its full, fruitful maturity.
How to Run: Strategic Moves Modeled by Jesus
Beyond changing location, withdrawing, and standing firm, Jesus demonstrated deeper layers of this principle.
Change Your Location: As a child, Jesus was taken to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15). As an adult, He often crossed the Sea of Galilee or went to a remote region to avoid premature confrontation. When Jacob had had enough, he decided to leave the house of Laban and eventually became Israel after wrestling with God (Genesis 31:1-21). Abraham was told to leave his homeland. God orchestrated Joseph’s journey to Egypt. Moses had to leave Egypt when it was not convenient, and God later called him back. Sometimes, all you need to manifest your purpose is a change of location. Your destiny may lie temporarily or permanently in a foreign country, city, or another district. Explore what God is saying inside of you. Look at the abilities and skills you have that you think are aligned with the voice inside of you, and act on it. For instance, if you are a student or want to continue with education because you feel dry in your current situation, and you feel called to go elsewhere to continue your studies, then it is better to start applying for those scholarships or opportunities outside your district, area, city, or country. That move may be your escape route to your destiny. The same applies to employment, marriage, or ministry calling opportunities.
Action: Listen to the Voice of God inside of you, then act on it.
Withdraw to Reconnect: Jesus didn’t just withdraw from people; He withdrew to the Father. "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mark 1:35). He prioritized communion over crowds, ensuring His steps were ordered by the Father, not by the pressure of man. King Hezekiah prayed when the king of Assyria wanted to attack him (2 Kings 19:15–16). The big question is: where do you withdraw to as your escape route? Human beings often like to withdraw and seek refuge in something that is seen (people) rather than the unseen (God). They find comfort in the evidence they can see the limited people whom they are talking to, listening to, affirming, agreeing, or sympathizing with them rather tha8n the unlimited and all-powerful God who holds the fate of everything. Remember, we live by faith and not by the physical evidence of the seen (sight). Hence, let your faith direct you to rest in Jesus Christ, the sustainer of all things. Make prayer, Bible reading, and meditation your hiding place.
Action: Schedule daily "withdrawal" for prayer and scripture. Protect this time as the non-negotiable command center for your mission.
Stand with Spiritual Authority: Jesus stood firm not just in debate, but against the core tempter of destiny. In the wilderness, He confronted Satan’s shortcuts to glory with the truth of God’s Word (Matthew 4:1-11). He took every thought captive. Paul stood up for the Christian doctrine regarding the Gentiles against Peter. Sometimes you have to stand up for your beliefs and values. Satan would want you to compromise and will offer you shortcuts to the fulfillment of your destiny. But remember, everything he tell8s you comes with a price. It may look and sound fulfilling now, but it carries long-term consequences. That is exactly what happened with Adam and Eve; their failure to stand up to the enemy made us all sinners, destined for condemnation until Jesus came to die and redeem us for Himself. So stand up with authority. Remember, you are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus.
Action: Audit the ideas, beliefs, and values you entertain. Do they align with God’s Word and the character of your calling? Reject the shortcuts that compromise your integrity.
Rely on a Trusted Community: Jesus had the twelve, and within that, the three (Peter, James, John). They were His support in Gethsemane. Every time Jesus ran into debates and arguments with the authorities and the religious leaders, His disciples were always there with Him. When the authorities came to arrest Jesus, Peter joined in the fight. He found it difficult to let it go until Jesus intervened. The disciples were more than just followers of Jesus; they were His family, a shield that would walk with Him side by side a buffer between Him and the people at times until the last moment. While we must sometimes move alone, God provides community as a protective shield you can run to for the fulfillment of your destiny. The community provides you with strength, wisdom, and protection.
Action: Identify and invest in godly relationships that speak truth and cover you in prayer.
Your Call to Action: Mapping Your Run
It’s time to move from inspiration to implementation.
Identify: What is the specific purpose or dream you feel compelled to protect? Write it down.
Diagnose: What are the current threats? Is it distraction, discouragement, toxic relationships, or fear?
Strategize: Which of the "ways to run" is the Holy Spirit highlighting for you right now? Is it a physical move, a disciplined withdrawal for prayer, or a courageous stand for truth?
Commit: Prayerfully commit your plan to God. Declare, "Lord, I will protect what You have planted until Your appointed time."
The Promise of Your Obedience
While God does not promise a path without opposition, He does promise guidance and ultimate victory to those who walk in His wisdom. Proverbs 4:12 says, "When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble." If you follow the principle of the "run" moving in obedient sync with God’s timing you align yourself with His sovereign protection. Your chance of seeing your God-given purpose come to fruition is not merely good; it is anchored in the faithfulness of the One who called you. You are not running alone; you are running with Him, and He has never lost a single promise He has made.
Conclusion
The narrative of Scripture is clear: great purpose invites great opposition, but greater is the God who ordains the timing. Jesus’s journey to the cross was the ultimate demonstration—every attempt to stop Him before Calvary failed because He was running the perfect race set before Him (Hebrews 12:1-2). Your purpose is worth protecting. It is worth the uncomfortable move, the disciplined withdrawal, the courageous stand. Do not let the enemy trick you into a premature confrontation or a disastrous detour. Nurture your calling in the place of protection until the season changes. Then, when the Father says, "Now is your time," you will step forward not in fragile hope, but in fortified strength, ready to manifest everything He placed within you. Your time will come. Until then, run wisely. Run well.
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