Breaking Free from the Trap of Sin

Sin is delicious

This past weekend I almost dug brownies out of the garbage can. The willpower I had to toss them in the trash at 6:00 p.m. was completely gone at 10:30 p.m., and I wanted those brownies in the worst way. Who cares that I’d have to rummage through the garbage can outside with a flashlight? So what if I had to scrape a few coffee grounds off of them? 

If Mr. 4-Ever hadn’t caught me in the act, I’m sure I would have written this devotion with fingers covered in gooey chocolate, feeling awful and disgusted with myself and thinking, I never meant for this to happen. 

Scrounging gross brownies from a garbage can isn’t that big an aberration, but we can get caught up in things that definitely are, things we never dreamed would hook us and can have lasting and devastating effects.

Sin disguises itself as helpful

Sin wraps itself up in what looks harmless or helpful or inviting, like the man who is kind to you on a rough day … or the 

• Prescription that numbs the pain.
• Images on your computer screen that take you away from real life.
• Sleeve of cookies that comforts in the midst of conflict.
• Adorable, but expensive dress you cannot afford, but put on your credit card.
• Titillating words in the romance novel that sweep you into fantasy.
  
• Glass of wine with dinner that turns into three or four.

Sin sneaks in and tastes so good. 

Pretty soon, we’re back for another nibble and another and another. Before we know it, all we can think about is the sensation of it. But the fear of being found out, rejected, judged, escalates. Pretty soon, we feel trapped in the guilt and shame. 

And that trapped feeling makes us believe the big lie that we have no way out.

Maybe you’re feeling trapped right now, and you don’t see a way out. Maybe you’ve even been a Christian for years, but you still struggle with being trapped. Sweet friend, Jesus didn’t just die for the little sins you can live with. He didn’t just die for the sins you can manage to forgive yourself for. Jesus died for the huge, stinky atrocities that make you feel so rotten you believe you deserve whatever trap you find yourself in. 

It’s time to break free. 

Confess the sin or addiction or behavior specifically (1 John 1:9), tell God you’re done with it (Acts 3:19), ask him to take away the urge and blockade the path to another nibble (2 Corinthians 5:17), and then receive God’s forgiveness (John 3:16–17).

Jesus, our crucified Savior, has risen victorious over sin and death. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. Believe he extends that gift to you today. Receive it for yourself and spring the trap open for good.

That’s what Easter is all about!

Verse for today:  When Jesus died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.  Romans 6:10-11 NLT

Prayer Jesus, I know you did not die so I would live condemned in this world. Forgive me. Lead me to freedom. I need you to help me break free. Give me a different life than this. Amen