Quit Letting Sin Trip You Up

My running partner has a real fear of snakes (I’m not much of a fan either).  And when we run early in the morning before the sun has begun to shine its light on our path, we tend to be on the lookout for these scary creatures.  One recent morning, when I was just starting out, I stepped on something in the street, I felt a sting on my leg, and found I had a sudden real fear of snakes myself.  It all happened so fast that at first I just kept walking (after a graceful stumble).  Then I circled back (not sure what I was planning to do if I found the snake) and realized it was just a STICK, a large stick, with lots of smaller sticks pointing out in all directions.  It was a substantial stick, but that is all it was.  Thankfully, no snake.  But it sure managed to trip me up.

Snakes (or serpents) manage to get a whole lot of attention in the Bible as they are mentioned over 80 times.  But the first time a snake makes an appearance is in the Garden of Eden.  And ever since Satan spoke his lies through the serpent to Eve, the snake has been associated with sin (another reason not to like them).

Source: Pinterest

Just like that stick in my path (that I sure thought was a snake), sin can certainly trip us up.  And for me it seems to be some of the same sins over and over.  Not long ago, I came across a bible study book that I had studied and written in over 6 years ago. Looking at my written prayers, I noticed some of the very same struggles, doubts, and concerns I face today. How can that be? Have I not even given Satan some new material to work with?

But the truth is, it really doesn’t have to be that way.  Yes, we are born to sin.  Romans 3:23 tells us “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  But Jesus changed all that when He came to this earth to die for our sins on a cross.  He made a way for sin to finally quit being a stumbling block in our lives.  The Apostle Paul tells us that we are a new creation in Christ.  Our old self and ways have died, and we are being continually transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Thankfully, Christ understands our struggles.  And when we do stumble, He allows us to confess our sins and promises to forgive us and cleanse us. 1 John 1:7 – 9 says, “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  Reading this makes me so grateful for the amazing love of our Savior.  He sacrificed so much for us to no longer be held hostage by sin.

A big part of the reason that I tripped on that stick is that I was running in the dark.  Without any light, I was vulnerable to whatever laid in my path.  The Apostle John tells us that we must “walk in the light.”  God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 199:105).  If we don’t spend time regularly in God’s word reading it and meditating on it, we will continue to stumble.  We need the light of His word and His spirit to guide us and help us make better decisions.

So it is time to quit fighting the same battle over and over (hoping this isn’t just me).  The victory over sin has been won!  I Corinthians 15:57 tells us “But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  And Romans 8:37 says that we are MORE than conquerors because of Christ!

Source: Pinterest

So those sticks in the path of our lives are really just sticks.  The only power they have over us is when we give in.  Rather than letting them trip us up, I pray that we can walk right past them, drawing on the strength of our Savior and the light of His Word, living lives that are transformed by His saving power, and drawing others to Him in the process.

Still on the lookout for a real snake in my path,