Sneaking In June 19th, 2013 John Grant Today’s Next Step: Need encouragement to keep fighting temptation? Talk to an online mentor. It’s confidential. “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13, NIV) The giant African land snail is considered one of the most damaging snails in the world because it eats at least 500 types of plants and can cause structural damage. It can also carry a parasite that can lead to meningitis in humans. It’s not known how this snail arrived in Florida, and there’s no estimate for how many remain, but In an aggressive effort to keep an invasive snail species from making a permanent home in Florida, 78,000 critters were captured in one year. They were found in the southern part of the state and have been multiplying their way northward. No one has any idea how many remain. They have even been found in residential backyards. They pose significant risks to Florida’s landscape. They lay up to 1,200 eggs a year and live for nine years. There is a spiritual parallel here. Sin is a trap that sneaks its way into our lives to destroy us. Often it sneaks up on us, and before we know it, we have an invasive sin problem. Oh, how subtle it can be, but like the snail it multiplies exponentially. Sin sneaks up on us undetected. It may bring pleasure for a short while, but it’s short-lived! Then we have to pay the consequences. Sin is deceitful. We think we’re okay, and before we know it, we are sinning with little or no conviction and our hearts have hardened. If we sow into sin we will reap the consequences. The choice is ours. We are a servant (slave) to whatever we yield to—sin or righteousness. We cannot be a servant to both. First Peter reminds us to “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (5:8); always be mindful that the “someone” is you and me. Once we fall into the sin trap we are boxed in on every side, but thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus, it is never too late to repent and turn from sin. Lord, give me an alert and discerning mind so no sinful or deceitful thought can take root. I need Your Spirit to be the gatekeeper of my mind and Your Word to be my shield. Please show me any sinful habit that is growing in my life; I want to serve You alone. Question: Why are we often lenient about what we consider to be small sins in our lives? Try the Search Me and Know Me Challenge
Posted on: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:54:36 +0000
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