An Unseen Snare
by David Silvester
From a window I observed a flower petal spinning in the breeze. It was neither moving up nor down, but seemed to be held just in that one place, yet spinning freely as if enjoying itself. On investigation it was discovered that this petal was held by a cobweb. An unseen snare had got it trapped.
How like some Christians! They are trapped in a sinful habit and practice and seem to be enjoying themselves, yet are unaware of the stronghold that grips and controls them. Some are gripped by alcohol, pornography or other seemingly pleasurable past-time, and unaware that such things grieve our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
There may well have been times when they have desired, and even attempted, to `kick the habit`. Yet they are aware of their lack of power to succeed. It is, as James says, through `confessing the sin to another` (James 5:16), then through prayer and true repentance, that God is able to break the stronghold and set the person free.
The promise that the Apostle John gives is clear. `If we confess our sins, He (Father God), is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness` (1 John 1:9).
Prayer: Father God, I confess that there are times when I feel trapped and ensnared by some undesired thought or practice that must surely grieve You. Please forgive me and enable me to live in a more holy manner, so that more of the likeness of Jesus might be seen in me, I pray. In Jesus` Name, Amen.
David Silvester is married and has a son, two daughters and eight grandchildren. He trained as a production engineer. He then moved on to become a lecturer of engineering craft skills before being called of God in his early fifties to become a pastor of a Baptist church. He says that,"having previously experienced an amazing healing on a day others expected me to die, it came as no surprise that God directed me and my wife, Margaret, to become involved with Ellel Ministries."
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