The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 HCSB
As a part of my job working for the Missouri Baptist Convention I traveled around the state speaking, preaching, and leading conferences. One of the topics of conversation among fellow workers was the “speed traps” that were located across the state. Many times there were policemen in hidden locations where they could catch people driving faster than the speed limit and issue a citation. Usually the speed limit would drop drastically and unless one knew the speed limit was changing, there was not enough time to slow down. That is when the blue lights would begin to flash and the driver would know he had been caught speeding.
The Devil is always trying to catch people. It started with Eve and continues today. The Devil always tells lies and will try to deceive. He makes us believe that if only we make a certain decision or possess the latest gadget, we will feel contented and successful. The reality is that when we follow the temptations of the Devil we will usually find ourselves in a trap of lies and deception. The Devil is very crafty and always makes sin look attractive, but once we take the first bite of sin we realize it is bitter. Next we experience feelings of guilt and depression.
Challenge: Beware of the Devil’s traps. He has set his traps and is hiding, just waiting to catch you. He roams around like a lion looking for whom He may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Pray that God will give you the strength to resist the temptations of the Devil.