Be careful, don’t let it captivate you. (10 Sept)

Verses of the day

• Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
• Psalm 119:111 Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight.
• Psalm 119:110 The wicked have set their traps for me, but I will not turn from your commandments.

In the book Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands, Paul Tripp reminds us of 3 principles that are true about things that come to control our hearts. Based on Matt 6:19-21 he says, “It’s a matter of treasure.”

1. Everyone seeks some kind of treasure. (This is Christ’s operating assumption.)
2. Your treasure will control your heart. (“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”)
3. What controls your heart will control your behavior. (“No one can serve two masters.”)

He follows those statements up with a reminder, “The things we set our hearts on never remain under our control. Instead, they capture, control, and enslave us. This is the danger of earth-bound treasure.” So, what is the treasure of your heart this morning?

I find myself so quickly and easily distracted. Often it’s something that pops up on my phone. An email, a text message, a Facebook notification…etc And before I know it I’m mindlessly scrolling through my feed. Sometimes it’s harmless stuff. But sometimes I’m scrolling because I know it will satisfy a fleshly desire. And I find myself captivated by it.

Colossians 2:8 says, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”

In contrast, 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

Instead of mindless scrolling, or I should be intentional and deliberate in what I am doing on my devices. So, this morning, this is what I prayed for myself, and for you guys.

Father, our enemy is doing his best to try and trip us up (Ps 119:110 ). Help me not to fall for his traps (Col 2:8) . Help me to make the choice not to fall for his stumbling blocks today, but to turn to your commands and not stop obeying them (Ps 119:112)

I want to be wiser than those who have gone before me who have fallen and failed (Ps 119:98-100), because they did not keep your Word! You have taught me, and continue to teach me. May your Word become sweeter than honey to me.

David fell in love with your Word. He couldn’t take his mind off of your Word (Psall 119:97). Your Word was his constant guide (Ps 119:98). He specifically, consciously chose to avoid the paths of evil so that he could keep your Word (Ps 119: 101). Lord help me to be sober and vigilant today so that I won’t fall into the devils schemes.