Persevere in the PresentSample

Run From Sin and Snags

Oftentimes we forget that both good and bad things can be a distraction. Christians typically understand that sin is a bad thing, but what about the good things that still manage to take our eyes off of Jesus? Maybe you find yourself distracted by everyday life; maybe present circumstances overwhelm you, just like they overwhelmed Peter the disciple. When he stepped off of that boat and onto the water, as soon as he took his eyes off of Jesus, he sank. It is important for us to recognize the sins and snags that consume our mind and eat at our perseverance. Once you distinguish what they are...run from them!

Snags take our time while sins take our heart. Sin is often simpler to identify than snags. Snags can often look like busy schedules, idolizing work, idolizing marriage, satisfaction. . . the list could go on forever. None of these are bad things, but when we allow them to sit on the throne of our heart, they become snags. Both sin and snags are dangerous territory for believers, because they slowly kill our perseverance and faith. Our walk is not about how close to sin we can get; it is about how close to holiness we can get. We are meant to be set apart from the world; the way we live should reflect our pursuit of holiness. Pay attention to what has your mind and heart! The more time we spend fully living in Christ, the less time we give to snags and sin.

Prayer: “Father, we thank You for the clarity that Your Word brings. Please reveal to us the areas where we are letting snags and sin kill our perseverance. Help us to honor you in every area of life. May we not allow the good things to become idols. Give us the desire to seek You, so we can be more like Jesus every day. We love You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”