The Spiritual Man's Obstacle CourseSample

4. Facing the Trenches (part 1)

Trip Wires

“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.” – Proverbs 24:16

As men of God, we often get started on our course with enthusiasm and excitement. Initially after the set off we feel a certain energy, a momentum of sorts, and things seem to run smoothly.

For some, their start might just be the opposite. A rocky start might be a more accurate description of your walk with Christ—or even your daily rhythm. Whatever your situation is, we don’t need to trip and fall all the time. And we most certainly should not stay down!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1

Have you ever done, or maybe seen, an obstacle course? Nobody who attempts the course goes back to the start line every time they fail a single obstacle. They get up where they fell and attempt that obstacle again. Nobody gets close to the finish line, fails an obstacle, and then returns to the start. They reattempt—again and again—the obstacle that tripped them up!

Trip wires, whether in an obstacle course or on a battlefield, are usually hard to spot and difficult to step over clearly. They set off alarms and bombs or send us flying into a crashlanding. Yet, we have a guide, a coach, a captain, who leads our charge, who goes before us—Jesus. And He can help us navigate these traps, as well as pick us up, dust us off, and set us back on the track of righteousness.

Read Hebrews 12:1-3 and reflect on the following:

• What’s your observation(s) from this reading?
• What’s your understanding of sin that easily trips us up?
• What’s your biggest obstacle to overcoming sin in your own life?
• What should you pray about after today’s reading?