THE TRAP HAS BEEN SET!

Image result for CLIP ART SHOWING TRAPS FOR ANIMALS   Jesus has finished His teaching to the disciples concerning the future and His return.  He gives three reminders in his oration in Luke 21:  "Watch out...","Be careful", and "Be always on the watch and pray...".  It will be just days before He is taken captive and murdered.  (I just have to remind you that HE could have chosen another route, but for HIS love for you and me and HIS obedience to HIS FATHER, HE MUST proceed to Jerusalem.)  

In Luke 21:34-35, read His warning: "Be careful, or your hearts (Greek:  thoughts of the mind) will be weighed down with dissipation ( Greek: headache after drunkenness), drunkenness (Greek: intoxicated), and the anxieties (Greek: distractions) of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.  For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. " 

As Christ followers, Scripture has modeled plenteous times the dangers present and the dangers coming which will attempt to ensnare and catch us. We can become so distracted with the cacophonous cries of the birth pangs of evil that surround and may overtake us that we move into victimization or apathy not knowing what to do. This is the method of the evil one...to cause us to lose focus and hope.  We are NOT orphans!  We have NOT been left alone to fight the forces of evil  or to carry our burdens/cares.  We have tools which are many, but I mention only these two given to us by the Holy Spirit of God :  the armor of God from Ephesians 6, and our greatest weapon, PRAYER!   This same SPIRIT that raised the Lord Jesus from the tomb and raised Him to be seated at the right hand of God is the self-same Spirit who indwells you and me as Christ followers. Check out Colossians 2: 13-15, "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.  HE forgave us our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross.  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."  We can choose not to be ensnared!  We can humble ourselves under HIS mighty hand and cast ALL our cares on the Lord Jesus.  1 Peter 5:7.  More than conquerors!  Fight on, fighting the good fight of the faith!  Forever learning!  In process...no shortcuts!  You have the ability from the Holy Spirit of God to recognize the traps! #IHAVETHREESONS.  

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