Stay Away!

Are we alert to the dangers around us? When we see a trap being set, do we stay away like the bird? If we fail to please God by engaging in the same hurtful or harmful behavior again and again, the answer is clearly no. The entrance to common sin is not a stranger to common sinners. We visit it regularly unrestrained by conscience. Like a familar rerun, we see the trap being set. Though we know the ending before we begin, we still dance slowly closer, toying with temptation, and then, embracing it. Let us emulate the wisdom of the bird and stay away. Stay away! If we do not, we will fail to please God again.

Satan is an avid trapper, roaming to and fro across the earth, seeking whom he may devour. Avoid the trapper and his traps. Flee across the dilemma to freedom. Accept the love and fellowship of the indwelling Holy Spirit. In Him we will certainly escape.

A Prayer begins . . .

Our Father in heaven, we honor your name. May our willingness to do good be followed by action. Help us stay away when we see a trap being set.

Think of friends that might enjoy reading the seven Bible verses on this page. Copy the address of this page (printed below), put it in a letter, an email or a note inviting them to come and look.

http://www.soamazing.com/SA100039.shtml

Two selected book quotations begin . . .

Jesus Is The Way

Henry T. Blackaby & Claude V. King, Experiencing God, Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994, pp. 20, 21.    SoAmazing.com

Category: Christian Living
ISBN: 0805401962
Keywords: pastored, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, farmer, directions, instructions, listen, map, Jesus, Broadman & Holman Publishers, Blackaby, Henry T. Blackaby, King, Claude V. King,

"For twelve years I pastored in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. One day a farmer said to me, 'Henry, come out and visit with me at my farm.' His directions went something like this: 'Go a quarter mile past the edge of the city and you will see a big red barn on your left. Go to the next road and turn to your left. Take that road for three-quarters of a mile. You'll see a tree. Go right for about four miles, and then you will see a big rock. . . .' I wrote all of this down, and one day I got there!

The next time I went to the farmer's house, the farmer was with me. Since there was more than one way to get to his house, he could have taken me any way he wanted to. This time I didn't need the instructions I had written down. You see, he was my 'map.' What did I have to do? I simply had to listen to him. Every time he said, 'Turn' I did just what he said. He took me a way I had never been. I probably couldn't retrace that route on my own. The farmer was my 'map.' He knew the way. . . . Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life' (John 14:6) . . . He said, 'I am THE way.' Jesus knows the way; He is your way."

SoAmazing Review: Experiencing God provides direct, engaging, practical advice on experiencing God. Blackaby and King know that Jesus is the way and we need only follow.

Buy Experiencing God Now!   Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Christianbook.

Well Intentioned Obstacles

Eugene H. Peterson, Leap Over A Wall, HarperSanFrancisco, 1997, pp. 41, 42. SoAmazing.com

Category: Christian Living
ISBN: 0060665203
Keywords: valley, King Saul, David, armor, weapons, waddle, well intentioned, Valley of Elah, amateur, professionals, HarperSanFrancisco, Peterson, Eugene H. Peterson

"On the near side of the valley, King Saul is worried over this kneeling David. He has just tried his best to be of help by outfitting him with his own armor. He set his bronze helmet on David's head, wrapped him in his coat of mail, and handed him his sword, which David strapped around his waist. David had never been dressed like that before. And it seemed like such a good idea. Saul's armor! The King's weapons! If there was anything that would fit him out for the task ahead, it was certainly this. Was there a man in Israel who wouldn't have counted it the highest privilege to be so equipped? But when he tried to walk, he couldn't move. Weighted down under the cumbrous metal, he was reduced to a stiff and awkward waddle.

There was no question but that Saul was well intentioned. He wanted to help and was helping in the only way he knew: pile on the armor, protect yourself, get a weapon with proven effectiveness.

This is a common experience in the Valley of Elah, when an amateur ventures into a field dominated by professionals. All around us people who care about us are suddenly there helping--piling armor on us, dressing us up in equipment that's going to qualify us for the task (even though it didn't seem to be doing THEM much good). We get advice. We get instruction. We're sent off to a training workshop. We find ourselves with an armload of books. These people are truly concerned about us, and we're touched by their concern, in awe of their knowledge and experience. We listen to them and do what they tell us. And then we find that we can hardly move."

SoAmazing Review: In Leap Over A Wall, Eugene H. Peterson looks at the life of David and draws some poignant lessons.

Buy Leap Over A Wall Now!   Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Christianbook.

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