Trapped
Fear of man will prove
to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
(Proverbs
29:25)
Did you ever go out to the woods as a kid and build a trap?
It might have been the box with a string variety, or a noose in the middle of a
path, or trip wire. You may have gone so far as digging a pit covered with a thin
layer of twigs and grass. Thankfully my traps never produced much in the way of
animals, but they did teach me a thing or two.
The best traps are the ones that you don’t see coming. They
are veiled and hidden from plain sight, or placed in the blind spot of an
intended victim. They often entice you with a morsel of something that invites
you in for a look, and then catch you unaware from behind.
The "traps" of sin are much the same. They
promise “greener grass” or “swifter returns,” but end with devastating
outcomes. They disguise themselves as good, but end in compromise.
The fear of what others think – living for the approval of
those around us – is an example of the later. We can rationalize that it is
wise to please our family, wife, boss, or friends. That’s good, isn’t it? But
if this takes our eyes off of the Lord, or compromises our beliefs, it can
become a snare to us and trip us up. We can even end up doing the right thing
for the wrong reason, and seem to have a desired result. But it’s all wrong and
it robs us of experiencing the “good,
perfect, and pleasing will of God.” (Rom. 12:2)
Hebrews 12:1 reminds us to “keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter
of our faith.” This is my prayer for today, as there are many other
pressures and demands upon my life today.
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