The Snare of Pleasure

Day XCVII

Today brothers and sisters we will get the message of the Lord from the book of Thomas a Kephis "Come Lord Jesus a devotional readings from "The Imitation of Christ edited for Toda's reader by David Hazard.

 2 Timothy 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God.

Do you think your soul is secure and immovable - not as long as we are in this life. Haven't you ever known a man or woman who seems good and spiritual - and then see them fall away from God?

The person who thinks they will never gall suffers even greater damage when they slip. You remain humble and depend on God for every moment of your soul's safety and strength. Only in this humble spirit do you stand a change of avoiding the snares of the evil one.

And here is a hidden snare we must avid:

Many Christians allow themselves to daydream about pleasures they know are forbidden. They think, I am not acting on these thoughts. So what does it hurt? They are already many steps down the road, deep in enemy territory.

Before we know it, Satan has mesmerized us using our own appetites. He has led us out of our fantasies into real indulgence. He has stirred our flesh, and our senses have move us out of the realm of the spirit and into the world where we are left to grub out a few moments of pleasure. But what you desire is shiny illusions, dangled before our eyes. In the end, we do not experience the inner delight we thought sin would give us. In fact, we are empty and cold within, slinking back home with guilt and remorse. We have burned our conscience and shattered the peace of our soul.

It is often said: "A few moments of happiness tonight - a heartful of ache and sorrow in the morning."

So it is - with empty illusions that promise satisfaction - Satan hypnotizes and leads astray. So it is he leads us out from the presence, safety, and fulfillment that is in God - out to were his dark forces can gnaw on our soul with the teeth of regret, bitterness and sorrow.

Let us pray:

Father, keep me alert to the voice that whispers inside, "What does it matter if you indulge these thoughts?" Let me see through the shinny illusions - and see the snare that lies beyond.

Teach me, Father, how to let you give me what my soul really needs to live: respect... acceptance... integrity... love a "home" in your heart.

Keep me from following after evil.