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Snare


It's not starting well, but ending well that matters.
Gideon had his own doubts, his own struggles, but at one point of time, he decides to believe and do amazing things for God. But all did not end well for Gideon. Not that he sinned. But what he did left a negative impact on future generations.
When offered to be the ruler of the nation, the alluring post of first king of Israel, he rightly says- "I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The Lord will rule over you." Yet he asks to bring a gold earring each and makes an ephod and establishes it in his home town.
The word says, it became a snare for Gideon and his family. It becomes a place of idol worship and prostituition for Israelites.

What legacy do you leave behind?
The habits my children emulate?
The qualities my juniors want to follow.
The character I want others to see.
Is it love for money and savings.
Is it craving for fame and recognition and acceptance.
Or is it desire to fly high the banner of the Lord.
It might be a subtle ephod, which is not harmful or hazardous. May be a small addiction or love for movies or games. But it might become a snare for others who look upto you. Beware to purge out the evil from your midst. Deutr:17:7
It might not be overtly sinful. But if it becomes a snare for others, if it becomes a root for sin for others, purge it out. Paul was willing to be a veggie for the sake of new believer's (at that time it was eaten after offering to idols)
When the Holy Spirit convicts you to renounce something which apparantly looks harmless, you might think it's irrational and too radical and strict, hard to follow.
When we started our family, Facebook was the in thing.  But we realized it was eating up most of our time. When God convinced us, we both felt it necessary to uninstall both of our accounts. For people who ask how can you survive without these connections, all we have to say is that we have survived for more than 10years now. And we don't regret an iota. We have not lost anything.
What would have been a waste of time, we were able to gouge it out, by His grace.

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  1. Mathews Philip20 April 2021 at 06:39

    šŸ™

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown20 April 2021 at 09:02

    šŸ™šŸ™

    ReplyDelete
  3. Smita Itty 20 April 2021 at 12:04

    A snare for others who look upto you šŸ˜±
    Help.me Lord to be an encouragement to others and may I never be a snare to those around

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the halfbaked bard21 April 2021 at 08:10

      Yes how extremely cautious we need to be šŸ™

      Delete
  4. Ren21 April 2021 at 05:55

    What a wonderful insight! I wish this was spoken out loud and clear, shouted out from the rooftops. That we all would purge the little things that hinder our time and relationship with our Saviour. May we never create such ephods and May God help us to delight in Him and His Word above eveything else. AmenšŸ™šŸ»

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the halfbaked bard21 April 2021 at 08:13

      šŸ™Very often we fail to realise we are creating a snare. Let God convince us

      Delete

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