Traps and Stumbling Blocks

10/13/2001

Hi Elaine…

I won’t mention anything again, but just hoping and praying that it is all going well for you. We are “not unaware of satan’s devices.” There are several ways the devil hopes to ruin our chances to grow into the image of Jesus. He will try several routes, typically, rather than allow you to become more like the Son (and therefore more Useful to the Father and His Kingdom). When there is Light exposing sin and character issues, the enemy will either:

1) try to “vindicate” you and make you feel justified through people with similar sins, by their own guilty consciences, or by their flattery, OR, if satan can’t get into your heart that way,

2) he’ll try to divert you by getting you busy, or stimulating you with other desirable events or circumstances or relationship opportunities to steal our focus (or perhaps he will use crisis, if those “nice things” don’t work to divert you from seeing and dealing him a death blow), OR he will, if none of that other stuff works,

3) attempt to get you to despair and “quit” because “it is all so hard and discouraging”—in order to gain ground for himself.

SO, just wanted to encourage you to avoid those three satanic traps that stunt our growth! Smack satan in the face and approach this all in honesty and humility, and with faith and love of Jesus and love of Light and Truth, and with total trust in His ability to bring you—not only ultimately to His side, but to His Life and Character, far towards “the FULL MEASURE OF HIS STATURE,” in your lifetime. He wants to. It’s just that most people never get anywhere near His Promises because they give in to one of the three stumbling blocks from the enemy just mentioned, and seldom grow into His Likeness much, when Opportunities present themselves. But you can. Love in Messiah, wanting His all for you…….