How to steer clear of 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?

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