The snare of the fowler

I often get “lost in translation” when it comes to my independent struggle with the cares of this life and sin as it endeavours to take a strangle hold at any given time. I believe I am not alone when it comes to this reality in my life, many, like the Apostle Paul would share my sentiment when it comes to the weakness of our flesh. Human nature will always pull us in the opposite direction to the will of God for our lives. This is why I believe he arrives at this conclusion in the book of Romans; “For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” (Romans 7:22-25) – With this in mind, let us never accommodate sin in our lives as an acceptable commodity.

Let me leave you with the words of a far greater gifted man than I could ever be as we pay careful attention to His God given wisdom…

 “Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler.” (Psalms 91-3)

“God delivers his people from the snare of the fowler in two senses. From, and out of. First, he delivers them from the snare-does not let them enter it; and secondly, if they should be caught therein, he delivers them out of it. The first promise is the most precious to some; the second is the best to others.

“He shall deliver thee from the snare.” How? Trouble is often the means whereby God delivers us. God knows that our backsliding will soon end in our destruction, and he in mercy sends the rod. We say, “Lord, why is this?” not knowing that our trouble has been the means of delivering us from far greater evil. Many have been thus saved from ruin by their sorrows and their crosses; these have frightened the birds from the net. At other times, God keeps his people from the snare of the fowler by giving them great spiritual strength, so that when they are tempted to do evil they say, “How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” But what a blessed thing it is that if the believer shall, in an evil hour, come into the net, yet God will bring him out of it! O backslider, be cast down, but do not despair. Wanderer though thou hast been, hear what thy Redeemer saith-”Return, O backsliding children; I will have mercy upon you.” But you say you cannot return, for you are a captive. Then listen to the promise-”Surely he shall deliver thee out of the snare of the fowler.” Thou shalt yet be brought out of all evil into which thou hast fallen, and though thou shalt never cease to repent of thy ways, yet he that hath loved thee will not cast thee away; he will receive thee, and give thee joy and gladness, that the bones which he has broken may rejoice. No bird of paradise shall die in the fowler’s net.” (Charles Spurgeon)

So wherever you may find yourself take encouragement from the hope that we have in our God. His Spirit will lead us into all truth concerning our conduct as Christians, Amen and Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone