Proverbs 26:11: As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.
2 Peter 2:22: Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
It’s a tough verse, but one which one which actually I think is quite profound… Blunt, but profound!Let’s be honest, most of us at some point have had moments where we have been bungee-rope Christians… progressing fairly well in our Christian life and suddenly, WHOOSH, we land on out butt back at what feels like square one, scuppered by our sinful behavior or unwise choices.
Something the apostle Paul knew about when he said to the Galatian Christians “you foolish Galatians who has bewitched you, you were running a good race, who cut in on you?”
The bible makes it clear “don’t let the enemy get a foothold”, and yet there are sinful behavior and foolishness that we are weak too, we have been delivered from, and yet we keep on putting ourselves in harms way.
Refusing to move on to what God has got for you because you want to stay, even though this place isn’t a good place e for you, spiritual self harm, and spiritual self harm in church contexts hurts the rest of the body, and Satan laughs when one of our potential star players can’t get off the subs bench because in not moving away we end up immobilized, paralyzed and the army which should be impacting the world is carrying of our own invalided side.
How often are we our own worst enemy?
Do we sometimes need to be saved from ourselves?
Are there places, people and situations which you keep returning too, and know that this is not the place God wants you to be?
Do we need to not only move on, but keep moving on and not returning back, trading Christ’s gift of Liberty for bondage.
After all you can’t move on to the next chapter until you stop rereading the last one.
You can’t pick up something new, when carrying the thing of yesterday.
Don’t put yourselves in harms way, glee anything that is going to entangle you and hijack your faith, the best traps the enemy sets us are things that don’t look like a trap, but for some reason they catch us everyone.
Pray for wisdom, pray for bravery, heed the words if warning the spirit is whispering in our ear and listen to the hearts of Christian friends.
As we think about the release groups, and fasting at all souls’, we need to be mindful, that Jesus is a God who sets his people free, liberates the captives, and re-liberates too.
Don’t be bewitched, let Christ set you free.
Walk away from anything that threatens to hijack your relationship with Christ, this may in some situations be tough, but in the long term worth it.
Save your future self pain by laying these idols on elastic bands down, snap those elastic bands in jesus name and walk free.
scruffyvicar 