Pro 7:23 -27 NKJV As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it [would cost] his life. Now therefore, listen to me, [my] children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth: (25) Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; (26) For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong [men]. (27) Her house [is] the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.

Dear Son, a snare is a trap that is laid out by forming a loop out of rope or wire. The hunter will bate the snare with food and direct the animal on the path they want the prey to go down by making a funnel. So when the prey comes by it smells the bait, goes down the funneled path and catches itself in the loop. If the animal could see the end from the beginning of the path it wouldn’t get trapped, but as it is it’s appetite blinds it to the dangerous situation.

Lust is a snare. God has given you a natural sex drive for the purpose of sex inside of marriage. Sex is something you should enjoy with your wife alone. In our culture there will be lots of temptations advertised as cheep and easy thrills outside of that context. Pornography is available on every corner of the internet. It may seem like there is no consequence to a indulging your curiosities but do not be deceived pornography is a snare. It will lead you down a path that will ultimately take everything precious in your life away.

The best way to avoid a snare is to not even go down the path. We should flee temptation when it comes. It can be helpful to count the cost. I once had a woman proposition me in a joking matter, “oh we could have an affair.” Immediately my thoughts were turned to how much that would hurt your mom and you kids. Having just seen someone I knew lose their entire family over an affaire caused me to want to run from that situation as fast as I could!

Life is filled with cautionary tales. Sadly the tale shared in Provers 7 is all too common today. I could give you dozens of names of people we know who were seduced into sexual sin and it became a costly snare for them. The point of this chapter is that the place to avoid sexual sin is as soon as you sense it. Flee! Flee! Flee!

There have been occasions where an animal was caught in a snare and weren’t ultimately caught by the hunter. To get out of the snare they had to chew through their own leg. Falling for the snare cost them a limb, but it didn’t cost them their life. If you have already started down the path of pornography there is a way out, but you will need to take drastic measures. Jesus speaks to the drastic measures taken to avoid lust in Matthew chapter 5.

Mat 5:28-30 NKJV “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (29) “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast [it] from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. (30) “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast [it] from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

In our context drastic measures to avoid pornography may mean staying off the internet. Using a filtered web browser. Letting someone else set up and password protect settings on your smart devices. Making sure you are in regular community with other believers.

Father, I pray that you guard the hearts of my children from snares the devil sets in our culture. I pray for their purity. I pray for the ability to confess and repent if they should sin against you in this way (Psalm 51). I pray that they would flee temptation and pray against it themselves. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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