The other night Anita and I watched a movie on TV entitled The Adjustment Bureau. The plot unfolded around this small group of elite people who devised a Matrix-like intricate system to lead people down a path they had devised for them. People were not allowed to deviate from the plan prescribed by the Chairman. We could not help but see a hidden reference to God and His plan for us in that plot. However, the key player in the film found a way to deviate from the Chairman’s path, just as we often find a way to deviate from God’s plan for ourselves.

Just as a river winds through the countryside because it follows the path of least resistance, so do our lives become crooked when we keep deviating from God’s perfect plan for us by taking the easy way. The more we take short cuts and compromise godly values for bad behavior, the more turns in our life’s path.

In the Old Testament, the prophet Daniel set an example for all of us. Daniel 1:8 records, “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.” That’s another good verse to place on your refrigerator.

Tags: compromise, sin, temptation

In the Australian bush country grows a little plant called the “sundew”. It has a slender stem and tiny, round leaves fringed with hairs that glisten with bright drops of liquid as delicate as fine dew. Woe to the insect, however, that dares to dance on it. Although its attractive clusters of red, white, and pink blossoms are harmless, the leaves are deadly. The shiny moisture on each leaf is sticky and will imprison any bug that touches it. As an insect struggles to free itself, the vibration causes the leaves to close tightly around it. This innocent-looking plant then feeds on its victim.

Satan doesn’t tempt us with ugly, painful things. He tempts us with lovely, exciting things and then springs his trap. Ugly and painful are the results of his snare. I lived long enough in a sinful lifestyle that I know the devastation the deceitful trap came bring. I know what being trapped feels like.

Paul said, “Your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Keep your eyes open for the trap today.

Tags: deceit, Satan, temptation, trap

There is a Jewish legend about a rabbi who went on a journey with his servant named Jacob. Their cart was drawn by a lively horse of which the rabbi was very fond. When they came to a roadside inn, the rabbi went in to rest, leaving his horse in Jacob’s care. In the meantime, a horse trader passed by and, seeing Jacob, soon made friends with him. He plied him with drink and Jacob soon was so intoxicated it was easy for the horse trader to induce him to sell him the horse for a song.

Although drunk, Jacob was frightened by what he had done. What would the rabbi say when he came out of the inn? An idea occurred to him. He placed himself between the empty shafts of the cart and started to chew hay. When the rabbi came out, he was struck speechless by what he saw. “What’s the meaning of this?” he stammered. “Where’s the horse?”

“The horse? That’s me!” replied Jacob, and he uttered a loud whinny. “What on earth are you doing?” murmured the rabbi. “Have you gone out of your mind?” “Don’t be angry with me, Rabbi,” pleaded his servant, Jacob. “Years ago a great misfortune happened to me. I was a young man then, a little wild and foolish, and, may God forgive me, I sinned with a woman. So to punish me, God turned me into a horse – your horse. For twenty long years you have been my master, Rabbi, little suspecting who I really was. Well, it seems my punishment is over. I’m again a man, praise God!”

When the Rabbi heard Jacob’s story he was amazed. However, there was the practical difficulty of how he could continue his journey without a horse, so he went into the market place to buy one. Suddenly, he stood face to face with his old horse. It was munching a wisp of hay at the horse trader’s. Going up to it with a frown, the rabbi whispered in its ear, “For goodness sake, Jacob! Again, so soon!”

Tags: judgment, sin, temptation

I read about how people in North Africa catch monkeys. A hunter hollows out a gourd and makes a hole in its side just large enough for a monkey to insert his open hand. The gourd is then filled with nuts and tied to a tree.

The curious monkey is attracted by the smell of the nuts and reaches inside and grasps them. The hole in the gourd is too small, however, for the animal to withdraw his fist as long as it is tightly closed around the nuts. Because he refuses to release his prize, the unsuspecting monkey falls easy prey to his captor. Unwilling to relax his grasp, he actually traps himself.

So it is when Satan wants to entrap us. He will dangle something we desire in front of us. Once we grasp that thing, he then springs his trap. Because we refuse to let go of the thing, we are caught in our own trap and Satan can then lead us wherever he wishes.

The Apostle John said, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).

Tags: bondage, snare, temptation, trap

Dwight L. Moody also told this interesting story:

“I heard of a boy who stole a cannon-ball from a navy-yard. He watched his opportunity, sneaked into the yard, and secured it. But when he had it, he hardly knew what to do with it. It was heavy, and too large to conceal in his pocket, so he had to put it under his hat. When he got home with it, he dared not show it to his parents, because it would have led at once to his detection. He said in later years it was the last thing he ever stole.”

When I was a boy, some friends of mine talked me into joining them in breaking into a house. We obtained a hammer, screwdriver and crowbar and walked across the street and around behind the house, trying to gain access through a back window. The house was empty, so there was nothing to steal. It was broad daylight and my friend’s father saw us going across the street, so he followed us.

He grounded his son and sent our other friend and I home. I was the oldest of the three, so he assumed I was the instigator. I was forbidden to play with my friend or visit in his home. Although that was years ago and I have since officiated at both of my friend’s parents’ funerals, to this very day I carry a shame for being identified in that act.

Tell us about your experience with stealing or with guilt.

Tags: guilt, Moody, sin, stealing, temptation

Dwight L. Moody, the great Chicago evangelist of the 1880s & 90s, used this illustration:

“A steamboat was stranded in the Mississippi River and the captain could not get her off. Eventually a hard-looking fellow came on board, and said, “Captain, I understand you want a pilot to take you out of this difficulty?”

The captain said, “Are you a pilot?” “Well, they call me one,” he replied.

“Do you know where the snags and sand-bars are?” “No, sir,” came the reply.

“Well, how do you expect to take me out of here if you don’t know where the snags and sand-bars are?”

“I know where they ain’t!” was the reply.”

Moody concluded: “Beware of temptations. “Lead us not into temptation,” our Lord taught us to pray; and again he said, “Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” We are weak and sinful by nature, and it is a good deal better for us to pray for deliverance rather than to run into temptation and then pray for the strength to resist.”

I say that’s good counsel. What do you say in response to the story?

Tags: Moody, safety, stranded, temptation