The
Enemy’s Trap
Therefore, since we
are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us… - Hebrews 12:1
Perhaps you’ve heard
of the clever way African Bushmen used to trap monkeys for food. They’d use a
box or some other container and put a hole in it just big enough for the monkey
to stick in his hand. In the box was a banana to serve as bait for the
unsuspecting monkey.
The monkey would
stick his hand in the box to grab the banana, only to discover that the hole
wasn’t big enough to pull the banana out. But instead of letting go, the monkey
would pull and pull, hopelessly stuck, until the hunter would come and kill the
monkey.
It can be easy, from
our perspective, to wonder why the monkey wouldn’t simply let the banana go.
But when it comes to sin, many people behave the same way. They hold on
relentlessly to the bait of the enemy – the sin that entangles them – until it
ultimately leads to their destruction.
Let go of the
banana. Don’t let the sin in your life ensnare you and put you in danger.
Release the things that drag you down and make you susceptible to Satan’s
influence. Steer clear of sin and stay free from being entangled in the enemy’s
trap!
Prayer Challenge
Pray and ask God to
give you the strength to resist the enemy’s trap by steering clear of the
sinful temptations in your life.
Questions for
Thought
How have you seen
yourself or others harmed in the past by falling into the trap of sin?
What are some of the
traps the enemy has placed in your life today that are important for you to
avoid?