Corona Devo 3136

Have you ever watched a movie or a cartoon (think Tom and Jerry), where one character sets a trap (of some sort) for another character, and then we watch as the unsuspecting other character walks right into it.  

They didn't see it coming at all.  

That's how I feel with sin, and most often (for me), it is the sin of my tongue...and my (negative) words that impede God's plans, and bring me and others down in negative ways.  However, beyond the tongue, sin befalls us in all-manner of ways, and each of us may struggle with differing areas of sin---but we all struggle. 

There are times when we know that the devil may lay a trap for us, and (in God's strength), we avoid it.  We purpose to keep a guard over our lips/thoughts/actions/impulses/desires...a guard over our SIN, lest we fall to it.  

And--with prayer and preparation and with God, we can avoid sin and even be victorious over it.  

• Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  ~Matthew 19:26  

• No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.  ~I Corinthians 10:13 

• Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.  ~Psalm 141:3

But then there are times and situations and frustrations when we step right into sin.  And usually, almost immediately, we know--and are convicted in doing (and saying) wrong.  It could-have/should-have been avoided, but we walked right into it.

Today I saw a spider that had wandered (unfortunately) onto a sticky-trap in our garage.  He stepped into the wrong place, and I am sure that he knew almost instantaneously that he had made a mistake.  

Isn't that just how we feel when we wander into sin?  

Stuck.  Caught.  Exposed.  

Ugly.  Ashamed.  Stranded.

Like a spider on sticky paper....Dead.

But...Brothers and Sisters in Christ--(Good news!)  We are not that dead spider.  

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.  ~Isaiah 53:5  

Yes, sin lures us sometimes, and yes, sin tricks us sometimes.  

But YES!  Our Savior cleanses us and gives us new life, so that we can move forward anew and afresh and ALIVE with Him.  

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  ~2 Corinthians 5:17

~~~

With prayer and wisdom and with God, we can ask the Lord to protect and strengthen us against falling sin, and even to be victorious over it. 

We can see the trap-of-sin coming, and (with the Lord's leading) we do not need to walk right into it and get stuck today.  

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  ~I Peter 5:8

But--one better than just "not sinning", is if we will decide (instead) to live boldly for God's causes and His glory today. 

As the German Christian martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, "Being a Chrsitian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will."

~~~

Let's not get stuck/trapped/hood-winked/or led into the sticky-flypaper-of-sin today.   

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”   ~Isaiah 30:21

Blessings, 

sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com