Story - No Way Out
Story: No Way Out
“Come on, little birdy, fly out—no, not that way!” Jedediah felt his pleadings with the poor bird were in vain. He had been trying for the last half hour to rescue a poor bird that had flown into the garage and now couldn’t figure out how to get out.
It’s not that the door wasn’t open—it was. The sunshine streamed into the garage but the little bird could not seem to find its way out. There was a way out—only the bird wouldn’t take it. It seemed determined that if it just flailed its little body against the side or roof of the garage enough times, it would break free. But all its efforts ended only in ruffled feathers and further discouragement. It felt trapped in the darkness, unable to get back out into the beautiful summer day.
“No, don’t give up!” Jedediah gently encouraged the bird, which had landed in a corner, overcome by defeat. Oh, why couldn’t the bird see that there was a wide-open door waiting for it to fly through!
Do you ever feel stuck in the garage, so to speak? Maybe there’s an attitude or action in your life you know is wrong, but you feel stuck and unable to change. Maybe you, like the bird, have tried hard to conquer your sin, but to no avail.
There’s good news. While we can no more conquer sin than a bird can escape from a garage by flying into the walls or ceiling, Jesus has already conquered sin. The garage door is wide open—we’ve only to fly to Jesus and take the way of escape He promises to provide.
We had a discussion in Sunday School a few days ago which centered on the temptations of Jesus. We seem to have the misguided notion that Jesus endured three temptations for only one time in His life. There, in the wilderness, the devil came to Him after He had been fasting for forty days.
Three temptations, turn stones to bread, bow down and worship me, and jump from the temple roof! Three and then no more! We are so very short-sighted when it comes to our understanding of Scripture. Jesus was fully human just as we are. He felt hunger, pain, the heat of the day and the cold of winter. Jesus interacted with sinful human beings every day. Do you think He ever got angry at their attitudes and actions? As He grew up Jesus went through puberty. Do you think He was ever tempted to lust? He had brothers and sisters! Do siblings have challenging moments with each other?
There is nothing we face in this life when it comes to temptation that Jesus did not have to face in His life. The difference is that He stood against the temptation and did not sin! Remember, it is not a sin to be tempted! It is only when we give into the temptation that we enter into sin!
When Jesus had withstood the temptations the devil brought against Him in the wilderness the text says, “The devil left Him until and opportune time.” This means the devil came back and brought more temptations against Jesus later in His life.
Do you think Jesus was tempted to walk away as He prayed in the Garden, “Father, let this cup pass from Me.” What He was facing was going to be painful both physically and spiritually. He did not want to do it if there was another way! Because there was no other way, Jesus went to the cross.
In our lives we often find ourselves like that little bird. We seem to fly in circles, trying to figure out how to move forward but we are stuck. Stuck in our sin or in a sinful attitude. In frustration we want to give up, but all we need to do is remember Jesus has felt what we are feeling at that moment. He understands our temptations; He felt them in His life. He also understands our sin, because He bore them on the cross. He is not oblivious to the struggles we face. In fact, He is ready and willing to stand with us and strengthen us so that we can stand against the temptations we face and when we do sin, what does Jesus do? Does He turn away in disgust? No! Jesus turns to us in our pain and guilt. He comes to us with grace and forgiveness. Then He promises His presence so that we can face the same temptation in the future with the ability to overcome.
Meditate on the following verses of Scripture and see if you are not given a new and deeper understanding of Jesus and who He is in your life today!
No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 1 John 5:4
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:18
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. 16Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need. Hebrews 4:15–16
In Christ,
Pastor Russ
“Come on, little birdy, fly out—no, not that way!” Jedediah felt his pleadings with the poor bird were in vain. He had been trying for the last half hour to rescue a poor bird that had flown into the garage and now couldn’t figure out how to get out.
It’s not that the door wasn’t open—it was. The sunshine streamed into the garage but the little bird could not seem to find its way out. There was a way out—only the bird wouldn’t take it. It seemed determined that if it just flailed its little body against the side or roof of the garage enough times, it would break free. But all its efforts ended only in ruffled feathers and further discouragement. It felt trapped in the darkness, unable to get back out into the beautiful summer day.
“No, don’t give up!” Jedediah gently encouraged the bird, which had landed in a corner, overcome by defeat. Oh, why couldn’t the bird see that there was a wide-open door waiting for it to fly through!
Do you ever feel stuck in the garage, so to speak? Maybe there’s an attitude or action in your life you know is wrong, but you feel stuck and unable to change. Maybe you, like the bird, have tried hard to conquer your sin, but to no avail.
There’s good news. While we can no more conquer sin than a bird can escape from a garage by flying into the walls or ceiling, Jesus has already conquered sin. The garage door is wide open—we’ve only to fly to Jesus and take the way of escape He promises to provide.
We had a discussion in Sunday School a few days ago which centered on the temptations of Jesus. We seem to have the misguided notion that Jesus endured three temptations for only one time in His life. There, in the wilderness, the devil came to Him after He had been fasting for forty days.
Three temptations, turn stones to bread, bow down and worship me, and jump from the temple roof! Three and then no more! We are so very short-sighted when it comes to our understanding of Scripture. Jesus was fully human just as we are. He felt hunger, pain, the heat of the day and the cold of winter. Jesus interacted with sinful human beings every day. Do you think He ever got angry at their attitudes and actions? As He grew up Jesus went through puberty. Do you think He was ever tempted to lust? He had brothers and sisters! Do siblings have challenging moments with each other?
There is nothing we face in this life when it comes to temptation that Jesus did not have to face in His life. The difference is that He stood against the temptation and did not sin! Remember, it is not a sin to be tempted! It is only when we give into the temptation that we enter into sin!
When Jesus had withstood the temptations the devil brought against Him in the wilderness the text says, “The devil left Him until and opportune time.” This means the devil came back and brought more temptations against Jesus later in His life.
Do you think Jesus was tempted to walk away as He prayed in the Garden, “Father, let this cup pass from Me.” What He was facing was going to be painful both physically and spiritually. He did not want to do it if there was another way! Because there was no other way, Jesus went to the cross.
In our lives we often find ourselves like that little bird. We seem to fly in circles, trying to figure out how to move forward but we are stuck. Stuck in our sin or in a sinful attitude. In frustration we want to give up, but all we need to do is remember Jesus has felt what we are feeling at that moment. He understands our temptations; He felt them in His life. He also understands our sin, because He bore them on the cross. He is not oblivious to the struggles we face. In fact, He is ready and willing to stand with us and strengthen us so that we can stand against the temptations we face and when we do sin, what does Jesus do? Does He turn away in disgust? No! Jesus turns to us in our pain and guilt. He comes to us with grace and forgiveness. Then He promises His presence so that we can face the same temptation in the future with the ability to overcome.
Meditate on the following verses of Scripture and see if you are not given a new and deeper understanding of Jesus and who He is in your life today!
No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 1 John 5:4
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:18
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. 16Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need. Hebrews 4:15–16
In Christ,
Pastor Russ
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