Tag: Traps

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Shut your trap!

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭20‬:‭20‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Wow, things just don’t change all that much in the “set the trap,” let’s catch ‘em in a juicy sound-bite moment. Tisk, tisk, tisk, good luck catching God tripping up on some cheap word-trap and moral dilemma.

Luke gives us such a rich background to this moment. With words like “opportunity,” “spies,” and “reporting,” who wouldn’t be drawn into to this scene?

The guys, supposedly working FOR God, are trying to trap God to get him to quit interfering with their job of protecting God from rift-raft, fakes and false prophets. They never considered, even for a moment, that the REAL messiah, would show up and they would find themselves on the wrong side of truth. Can people get so turned around that they find themselves on the wrong side of truth?

Luke writes “they sent spies,” pretending (hupokrinomai), like actors on a stage, to be earnest in their query. Then they actually try to butter up God by telling him what a great guy he is!

Oh, you’re so honest Jesus.
Oh, people love following you Jesus.
You’re such a great leader Jesus.
What a bunch of DUNG!

It’s all fake flattery, dripping with barbs to trap Jesus into saying something useful, self incriminating and heard by so many. It was an excellent trap that everyone of us has fallen prey to.

The ol’ speak ill of the government trap.

Who hasn’t stepped in this one? The wacky laws, the ridiculous misuse of power and oh, don’t get me started on how they are spending MY tax money! I would have fallen for it and failed.

All Jesus needed to say is, “I can’t stand that Caesar and his wicked, mindless, money-grubbing cronies around him.” “Taxes? I wouldn’t give him one shiny new denarius, he’s a hack!”

His comments would have been captured, then reported and bada-bing, no more Jesus. Oh, but God will not be trapped by human traps and schemes. God is still not trapped by human schemes. In fact, God uses our ill-intents and petty manipulations to bring about His will and purpose bringing the reality of the Kingdom of God here on earth!

Jesus doesn’t fall for it. He asks for a coin, looks at it and flips it back to its owner. Cool as a cucumber he asks the owner of the coin, with the crowd waiting to hear the SNAP of the SNARE, “who’s image (eikón), who’s imprint (epigraphó) is on that coin?” The trickster responded, “well, of course it’s Caesar.” Jesus said, “then obviously give him back his coin!” The crowd was stunned, the religious leaders… silenced. This story is famous for this question, “who’s image and imprint does the coin bear?” It’s famous, because we, humans, are the image bearers of God. ALL of us. No one can flip our souls from one side to the other and not clearly see that we are unique and hardly “self-created!” We bear the image and imprint of God stamped on us. No other creature, flora nor fauna carries that same image, because God breathed Himself into our souls. So Jesus words are stingingly accurate even today, “Give to God what is His!”

Prayer

Dad,
I now know that I was bought with a price and I am yours. I know and love the fact that I am more than just a friend of God, like “I know Him!” But, I am your son. I’ve been twice adopted. I am in the family of God and my life bears your image and imprint. I return what “belongs” to you everyday. I am so thankful to bear your name and be your son.

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Enemies and snares oh my.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free! Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalms‬ ‭124‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Certainly in ancient times the world was a delicate balance of violence seeking peace or peace just in the edge of violence. In my world and in these times, I do not face a neighboring country or people who want to tear us apart and enslave us. That doesn’t mean it isn’t happening around the globe. I’m fact it is for many countries and people groups. It may be the norm!

Who are my enemies that present a real and present danger? At one point, about five years ago, I had one. Yeah, just one I could identify, but with the help of God I was able to escape with just my ego and bank account bruised. These enemies, David wrote about were very real and persistently trying to kill him. I do not have anyone trying to hunt me down and kill me.

The only enemies I can identify are more spiritual in nature. One is certainly Satan himself, the deceiver, liar and very real threat. The other one is sadly my own mind. I struggle with what Daniel Amen calls, ANTS – automatic negative thoughts (brainmd.com). Just an overwhelming sense that there is always more to be done and I’m not skilled enough to do it all. After going through a series called “Content,” and focusing on the word “enough” instead of “more,” I’m realizing that God has ALWAYS been good to me and that He is enough in my cravings for more, but also I am simply “enough” in who He made me to be! I can only be me and can only do me. To keep those healthy boundaries, I have to remind people around me, “I am not you,” in other words, I can’t approach problems or fix them like someone else. And, “I can’t be great at everything!”

Life and leadership sometimes feels like it moves too fast for me to process what is happening, in real time, around me. And when I’m overwhelmed I just freeze up! I shut down. I get stuck. So between the devil lying, manipulating and just mucking up my life along with my own brain betrayal, telling me I can’t do certain things well – the snares are set and I step right into both of them.

David’s war-cry declaration is just as valid now as it was for him in ancient times – Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!!! The snare is broken and we can escape.

Prayer

Dad,
I desperately need your help to reframe all that is going on in my life and in our world. I need to see and feel your perspective, your plan, your will and desire. With expectations piling up around me and having to address old fears of failure, my own social delays and pure lack of leadership experience – I need you and cannot accomplish eternal things without your Spirit. Break the snares and traps set to stop me. Free me to be who you created me to be and do the work you called me to accomplish. I am yours, always and forever.