The prophet Jeremiah prophesied his way out of martyrdom, at least for a while (Jer 26:24). The prophet John the Baptizer did the same thing, but was finally beheaded (Mt 14:5, 10). The Prophet Jesus used His prophetic power to escape several attempts on His life (i.e. Lk 4:30; Jn 8:59), but was eventually crucified.
We can be encouraged by this pattern because it shows that there's no stopping someone moving in the power of the Spirit. We will repeatedly escape from attempts to stop our work for the Lord. Even our deaths will not stop us. For example, John the Baptizer's death paradoxically became Herod's defeat and John's victory. Jesus' death became Satan's ultimate defeat and the Lord's victory of love, salvation, and resurrection.
In Jesus, we are unstoppable and invincible. By the power of the Spirit, we will repeatedly escape death. When we finally do die, we'll pull off the greatest escape of all by rising with Jesus from the dead. Therefore, "we are more than conquerors because of Him Who has loved us" (Rm 8:37).
| PRAYER: | Father, by faith in Jesus, may I laugh in the face of death. |
| PROMISE: | "For in truth it was the Lord Who sent me to you, to speak all these things for you to hear." –Jer 26:15 |
| PRAISE: | St. Eusebius was unstoppable as he stood up for truth and fought against heresy of his day. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College