Catching Foxes
"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards"
Song of Songs 2:15
Song of Songs 2:15
The
first time a bat invaded our home we dismissed it as a fluke. But after
a second nighttime visit, I read up on the little critters and
discovered they don’t need much of an opening to pay humans a visit. In
fact, if they find a gap as small as the side of a coin they’ll let
themselves in.
So I loaded up my caulk gun and went on a mission. I went around the house and closed up every tiny opening I could find.
In Songs of Songs 2:15, Solomon mentions another troublesome mammal. He writes of the danger of “little foxes,” which can “ruin the vineyards.” Symbolically, he’s speaking of threats that can enter a relationship and ruin it. Now I don’t mean to offend bat-lovers or fox-lovers, but keeping bats out of the house and foxes out of the vineyard is a bit like dealing with sin in our lives (Ephesians 5:3). By the grace of God, the Holy Spirit works within us so that we don’t have to “live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4). By the Spirit’s power we can resist the temptation to sin.
Praise God that, in Christ, we’re now “light in the Lord” and can live in a way that “pleases” Him (Ephesians 5:8–10). The Spirit helps us catch those little foxes.
So I loaded up my caulk gun and went on a mission. I went around the house and closed up every tiny opening I could find.
In Songs of Songs 2:15, Solomon mentions another troublesome mammal. He writes of the danger of “little foxes,” which can “ruin the vineyards.” Symbolically, he’s speaking of threats that can enter a relationship and ruin it. Now I don’t mean to offend bat-lovers or fox-lovers, but keeping bats out of the house and foxes out of the vineyard is a bit like dealing with sin in our lives (Ephesians 5:3). By the grace of God, the Holy Spirit works within us so that we don’t have to “live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4). By the Spirit’s power we can resist the temptation to sin.
Praise God that, in Christ, we’re now “light in the Lord” and can live in a way that “pleases” Him (Ephesians 5:8–10). The Spirit helps us catch those little foxes.
Reflect & Pray
When
you’re tempted to sin, how can you lean into the Holy Spirit’s power to
resist it?
What little foxes can the Spirit help you deal with today?
What little foxes can the Spirit help you deal with today?
"God, use Your power to give me the strength to resist sinning and damaging my relationship with You and others."
Little Foxes... Little Bats... I have those at work. And this devotion makes me recall our speaker from a couple years ago for Spiritual Emphasis Week. He spoke about spiders and webs. Clearing the cob webs only did so much, one need to kill the spider to find true freedom.
ReplyDeleteI like to be on the lookout for the spiders.
Sin is all throughout the world. It's something that temps all humans. With the Lord we are covered by sin but whenever I am tempted I lean into the lord by allowing myself to spend quiet time with him allowing myself to be alone with the Lord. I am so grateful to have a Lord that I can lean into in moments of human weakness!! Thank you for this wonderful devotional!
ReplyDeleteChoosing *not* to sin seems like a simple thing... until it isn't. It is especially pronounced when you have children who push you to your edge! The prayer that is constantly on my lips is, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me and save me, a sinner." I find peace in that prayer, and help when I need it.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think of the time when Troy and I lived with his parents. It was for a very short time. We were saving up for a house. At the time, Troy's grandma was living with them. His grandma was the most godly woman I had ever encountered, she had been a pastor's wife and she just came alive when she talked about her Savior. One day, as she was walking down the hallway to her bedroom, I heard her say, "Satan, get thee behind me." I was dumbfounded at the time and thought, if she says that, I need to have it on constant repeat in my head!
ReplyDelete