Spiders.

Recently, my youngest has developed quite a serious fear of spiders. OK, just for fun our family has watched Megamind just a few hundred times it seems and there is one scene that makes us laugh every time – the spider scene . It is simply how he says spider (speeiderrrr) anyway I had to include it because we all need laughter more than we know!

Back to spiders.

As I was outside this morning heading back in for a second cup of coffee, I noticed a web and what caught my eye was the spider (speeiderrrr!) was eating a stick. I took a closer look and realized that is not just any stick, but a stick bug. How was that spider going to actually eat that? I knew if K saw this web and spider so close to the house she would ask me to get rid of it. So, instead of removing it I called her over to see this! She grabbed a stick to save the stick bug and the spider has gone on to create a new web somewhere further away. We had to rescue this stick bug from the snare of the web.

Over the past few months in particular I have been going through Proverbs and I couldn’t help but consider the way Proverbs rescues us from the the snare of sin. Proverbs 5:22 says, “The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast.”  It is easy to get tangled up in a sin and forget that we have a way to be rescued. God’s grace is letting us see our sin, repent and commit to daily asking for grace to move further away from the sticky web sin is.

 

“Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
    pay attention and gain understanding.
² I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
³ For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
⁴ Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.
⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
    love her, and she will watch over you.
⁷ The beginning of wisdom is this: Get^[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all you have,^[b] get understanding.
⁸ Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.
⁹ She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.”

Proverbs 4:1-9

Today I listened to Paul Tripp talk about the danger of sin and how Proverbs helps us to see that, “Sin never delivers what it promises.” It may begin tasting sweet but leads to an unwelcome ending. He goes on to say about Proverbs 5 & 6 are, “…a case study about the danger of sin, and what sin does.”

He unpacks these two chapters so well. Here are the links below. So much wisdom!!

The Danger of Sin – Paul Tripp (Instagram today)

The Gospel Proves God’s Grace

 

As the stick bug needed to be rescued from the snare of the web, we too need to be aware of our own need to be rescued.

I want others around to help me see what is entangling my heart. Sometimes we don’t see it, others do and by God’s grace he allows us to see what we need to see and be freed from the web. Grace upon grace! Pray for that someone to see how you may be inadvertently caught in a web and snare. I know I need it daily!

 

Grace Upon Grace – Live Acoustic Version Matthew West

Listen to Matthew West share the story behind the song Grace Upon Grace!

Matthew West – The Story Behind “Grace Upon Grace”

 

Matthew West – Brand New (Live from the Story House)