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This morning I was reminded of
'The Scandal'
The word that is used in scripture is 
Scandalon (Greek)
it is a word that describes the stick used to 
trigger 
or trip a trap.
or described another way....
- Something that begins the chain of events
that result in imprisonment, bondage and possibly even
death...
The word is translated into English as
'cause to sin'
or
'temptation'
Matt 18:7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! 
For it is necessary that temptations come, 
but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!
8  And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, 
cut it off and throw it away. 
It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame 
than with two hands or two feet 
to be thrown into the eternal fire.
9  And if your eye causes you to sin, 
tear it out and throw it away. 
It is better for you to enter life with one eye 
than with two eyes 
to be thrown into the hell of fire.  ESV
Hmm...  
When I read it that way it takes on a whole different paradigm.....
I have always thought to 
resist temptation
was important
so I wouldn't sin....
That's kinda where the thought stopped.
This changes the picture of 
temptation and sin.
That it is actually a trap
with a very sensitive trip wire or trigger mechanism
- even being around it... 
and inadvertently bumping it
could result in 
getting trapped!
No wonder Jesus said
whatever is setting me up for this trap
whatever is going to cause me to get involved in this snare wire
needs to be removed...
Even if it's important for other things
(like a hand or an eye!)
Stop playing with
traps!
or even around traps!
Lord,
Thanks for re-framing
Temptation
and
Sin
as 
Tripwire
and
Trap
So I better understand what's at stake!
Thanks for opening my eyes to 
the traps in my life
- exaggerating (lying)
- 'borrowing' things (theft)
- pride in comparing myself with others (arrogance)
'Little things' that are really trip wires
to traps of imprisonment and bondage
I cling to You Lord
to show me
to open my eyes to what's in my life
that has terrible consequences
that's dangerous....
Thank You
I trust You to do that.
Today.
PJ