Among my people are wicked men who lie in wait for victims like a hunter hiding in a blind. They continually set traps to catch people. [Jeremiah 5:26 (NLT)]
If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away. [Proverbs 1:17 (NLT)]
When I was a little girl, although I was allowed to roam freely throughout much of my residential neighborhood, I was not permitted to go as far as the business section several blocks west. I had some playmates, however, who were allowed more freedom. One day, in defiance of my mother, I walked to the grocery store with them. Once there, they dared me to steal a candy bar, something they apparently did frequently and successfully. As young as I was, I knew shop-lifting was wrong but the chocolate bar looked so delicious that I took the bait. Even though I saw the trap being set, I stepped right into it and stole the candy! On the walk back down our street, I ate the chocolate and, as I recall, it didn’t taste nearly as good as I thought it would. When I returned home, guilt-ridden and ashamed, I told my mother what I had done. She marched me right back to that store where I paid for the stolen candy bar with my weekly allowance.
I certainly wasn’t any smarter than a little bird. When it sees the trap being set, the bird knows not to get trapped but I certainly didn’t! Unfamiliar with Solomon’s wise advice in Proverbs, I stepped right into the trap of sin. I was just a child then; I’m an adult and should know better now!
With the Holy Spirit guiding us, we should be able to spot those situations just waiting to ensnare us. When we hear that voice in our head saying, “I really shouldn’t…”, we really shouldn’t! We also need to avoid the trap setters—those people that may entice us into doing something we know is wrong. We can’t hang around with people who lie, use drugs, party, cheat, gossip, or steal and not expect our lives to be unaffected. Immorality, corruption, and irresponsible behavior have a way of rubbing off on everyone around it. We all know our individual weaknesses and temptations, we all know what specific bait the enemy uses for us, and we all should be smarter than a little bird.
Walking through the farmer’s market in a nearby town, I was surprised to look over and see a bright red banner saying “Prayer Station.” Curious, I walked over and introduced myself. Manning the station were two members of a small local church. People are there every Saturday morning, summer and winter, fair weather or foul, giving friendly greetings to passers-by. If someone stops, they offer a listening ear and prayers, if so desired. Prayer stations like theirs actually started in 2001 when Youth with a Mission (YWAM) established them around New York City following the September 11th attacks.
Like all children, my grands are growing up and new challenges face them every day. The eldest is now driving and old enough to date. Come fall, she’ll be looking at colleges, two others will start junior high school, one enters kindergarten and the youngest is off to nursery school. Where did the time go?
How would we prove we are Christians? If we were Islamic converts to Christianity, seeking asylum in the United Kingdom or several other nations, an assessor would interview us to determine whether or not we actually are believers. Unfortunately, many of those doing the interviewing have no real understanding of Christianity themselves. Worse, as new Christians, we probably won’t know the answers to the sort of questions that are asked while those who are pretending to be Christian might have all the answers memorized. After all, back in Jesus’ time, the Pharisees had all the answers but were sorely lacking in faith. If we failed our interviews, we’d be subject to deportation. For a Christian, especially a Christian convert (an apostate), returning to one’s Islamic homeland could have dire (even fatal) consequences.
Like any good guest, when the Holy Spirit comes to us, He doesn’t come empty-handed—He brings a gift. It’s neither generic nor a “one-size fits all” sort of thing. He brings each of us our very own spiritual gift specifically designed just for us. Like any appreciative recipient of such a precious gift, however, it is our job to unwrap and use it.
Devotions of the Heart 