The Dangerous Familiar KAREN EHMAN (proverbs31.us2.list-manage/track/click?u=f63562b3be485ea0ae33acf 18&id=ce1d49c13b&e=dffbba0abd) Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God - or rather are known by God - how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? Galatians 4:8-9 (NIV) Aw, come on Mom and Dad ... pleeeeease! During an afternoon drive, our kids spied a free kittens sign and begged for their first real pet. My husband and I caved and pulled into the farmhouse. After weeks of pestering, our offspring had won. We would get a kitten, and they would get the chance to prove they could handle the responsibility. Our youngest child, Spencer, chose a tiger kitten and proudly toted him out of the barn. When he placed the timid fur ball in the car, the kitten frantically dug his claws into Spencer who let out a scream and let go of the cat. It scurried under the drivers seat, crawled up near the clutch, and somehow managed to squeeze through a small opening into the dashboard where we could not see him. As an employee of an automaker, my husband assured us the kitty was safe. Even then, we waited awhile before making the trip home with the stowaway. Once home, he still wouldnt come out. We pulled the car into the garage, opened the drivers side door and tried to bribe our furry friend with some milk and food. Surely the little kitty would get hungry and come out. He did - a full two days later. We promptly named him Dash, and he became a normal, playful kitty. But we noticed something about Dash. Whenever he wanted to escape, he would crawl up under the engine of our van and sleep. When wed start the engine, he would dash out and run into our woods. Apparently, even though his first few minutes with us had been traumatizing, they had made a lasting impression. When he wanted to take a break from life, he went back to what felt familiar, even though it initially had been a horrible experience. Sometimes we make the same kinds of choices as Dash. When we feel like throwing in the towel for awhile, we revert back to a not-so-nice habit because it feels familiar. Maybe its a brownie laden with ice cream and hot fudge eaten in secret, a somewhat steamy show or questionable novel, or perhaps a phone conversation to let off steam while engaging in gossip. Our hidden habits and besetting sins entice us to participate just a little. They promise to offer us rest and a feeling of familiarity, but in reality they are dangerous places for us to lodge. Todays verse labels those familiar places that enslaved us before we knew God as weak and miserable. Paul writes these words to the Christians: Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God - or rather are known by God - how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? (Galatians 4:8-9). And that is just what returning to old habits makes us - weak and miserable. Determine today to stop hiding out in old destructive habits. Instead, come out into the light of His glorious grace and learn a new method of coping. Race to Him instead of running back to your old ways. His Word is alive and active. It can help us break horrible habits and form new, Jesus-pleasing ones as we reply with a resounding No to returning to the dangerous familiar. Dear Lord, forgive me for running to the familiar instead of to You. Break sins hold on me as I strive to break old habits for Your glory alone. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 23:33:26 +0000
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