DON’T TAKE THE BAIT

On Monday, as I gazed out my window hoping to see a deer or two in the field, I saw one. Between the two fields behind the church, there is a stand of trees with a mound in the middle. Right on top of the mound was a decent sized deer. It was eating from what I assume to be a bait pile. It looked up occasionally, but mostly had its head down eating. Though I didn’t see any hunters in the field that day, that deer was an easy target from either the North or the South. It had taken the bait!

I wonder if that deer had any idea of the danger it could have been in. I know of two deer that were harvested from that land less than a week earlier, and there have been hunters in the area since then. Yet, the deer probably found the food source irresistible. I’m guessing that deer lived to see another day, but it could have easily landed in someone’s freezer or dinner table.

That brought to mind several passages about temptation:

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1Peter 5:8 ESV)

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 ESV)

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41 ESV)

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1Corinthians 10:13 ESV)

When temptation comes, and it will, I pray that we don’t act like the deer … despite the inherent danger deciding to yield to the temptation. Instead, the instant you see the temptation, run, flee, do what ever is necessary to get yourself out of that situation before it’s too late … and don’t look back. Get to safety and pray for help! God will deliver. But, the best advice is to not allow yourself to be in that position ever again. Satan is an expert tempter, but what ever you do, DON’T TAKE THE BAIT!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker