"The Sin Trap"

Sin is a trap that will destroy our lives. Often it sneaks up on us, and before we know it, we have a sin problem.

I will list a few scriptures in today's devotion on sin, but I would like to start with this story which illustrates sins destructiveness. Oh, how subtle it can be!

The following story is told by Pastor David Moore of "Moore On Life"

Two guys are arguing how tough they are, who's the toughest, who's the strongest, etc.

One guy says to the other guy, "You know, you are such a sissy. I'll bet you couldn't allow a pint of water to be dripped on your hand, one drop at a time, from a height of three feet."

And so the bet was on and the experiment was conducted. There are 11,520 drops in one pint of water. After 300 drops, the guy's hand was stinging like fire but he's going to tough it out. But by 420 drops, the bet was over and he quit, he bailed. His hand was red, swollen and tender.

Men and women, we need to understand that sin is just like that - one drop at a time it doesn't seem like much, but its cumulative affect is always painful and destructive.

Sin traps us by:

Bringing pleasure for a season - Yes, sin can bring pleasure, but it's only a short-lived pleasure! Then we have to pay the consequences!
"Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." - Heb. 11:25

Hardening our heart by sin's deceitfulness - Sin is deceitful. We think we're okay, and before we know it, we are sinning with little or no conviction. Our hearts have hardened!
"But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." -Heb.3:13

Delayed consequences causing some to think they are okay sinning - Some have the attitude,"this must be okay since there haven't been any consequences". What they don't see is that the consequences for sin will eventually come!
"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." - Eccl. 8:11

Making us think we will not reap consequences - That's a deception, and it is to mock God. If we sow to sin we will reap the consequences.
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." - Gal. 6:7,8

Ultimately making you its slave - We are a servant (slave) as shown by whom we YIELD to SIN or RIGHTEOUSNESS. We can't be a servant to both.
"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" - Rom. 6:16

Let this devotion liberate you by helping you to see that maybe you have fallen for the "SIN TRAP", but it's never too late with God to repent and turn from sin. Be encouraged and become a servant to RIGHTEOUSNESS today! - Jim (BibleFood@aol.com)