Daily a lesson for December 8, 2014

Today's daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 21 verses 20 and 21: 

20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it. . ."

We have it on good authority -- Jesus -- that sometimes we just can't do a dang thing about it (whatever "it" is), except head for the hills.

He was talking about the destruction of Jerusalem. He knew that it would come. Rome would simply not tolerate rebellion amongst the Jews forever. The Roman army would march in and those who staid to fight, or hold out for a miracle would all be killed or hauled off into a miserable form of slavery. What they needed to do, Jesus told his disciples, is get out.

There are things in life we just can't do anything about; and praying for a miraculous intervention from God isn't going to change the circumstances either. It is what it is. What we have to do is accept it. Live with it.  Or we have to get the heck out. Run away even. Jesus gave us permission. And He did so because staying and fighting is going to end up getting us killed.

A prayer for this morning:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.