Watch Out for the Trap

REFERENCE: II Peter 2:19-21 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.

Observation: Reflecting on the dangers of the evil teachers, Peter reiterates what Paul had written. Sin is dangerous because it enslaves by its very nature. If we do not want to be under the control of someone/something else besides God then we must understand the power of sin to wrap us up in its tentacles. Peter goes as far as to say that it would be better never to have known the truth than to know it and to reject God’s call to holiness. In fact, Peter says that those who accept Jesus and then get entangled in sin are worse off than before. Why? Perhaps because now not only do they have the sin issue to deal with but their conscience is keen and tells them clearly that what they are doing is wrong. It is a terrible way to live"divided in the soul.

Application/Confession: I want to take to heart this warning. Sin does enslave and I want to be and to stay free.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to see the danger in even getting close to the trap of sin.