The Trapped Butterfly
Stretched above the mailbox, the butterfly hung motionless in mid-flight. Her wings spread out perfectly, like a dead moth pinned in a display case—except this butterfly was alive. She had fluttered into a spider’s web. Soon the spider would return, to enjoy a tasty meal.
Seeing a butterfly trapped, what would you do? I chose to free her. Gently, I snapped the web’s sticky threads. At that moment, I learned something new; a butterfly’s wing is more fragile than a spider’s web. My compassion, my great strength, even my knowledge of her future were all useless. Being caught in that web destroyed her.
People Get Entangled Too
Like the butterfly, people get trapped by making foolish choices. Often we can predict their future. The high school dropout struggles to find jobs. The smoker gets emphysema. A father neglects his children and loses their love forever.
In Hebrews, the writer urges us to “throw off everything that hinders.” Selfish indulgence, laziness, mindless distraction—these things prevent us from experiencing God’s best. Our Creator has dreams for each of us. We grow into our destiny only by obeying the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
My Own Struggle Toward Freedom
Recently, the Lord has invited me to “get used to the quiet”. I’ve been asking God to use me powerfully and this was His reply. “Maureen, stop turning on the TV, watching movies and wasting time on the Internet. Stop distracting yourself.”
I’m struggling to obey. Why?
Because I’m caught in the enemy’s web. Decades ago I started gorging myself on empty entertainment and now I crave it. I’ll need Jesus’ help to get free.
In the sunlight a spider’s web glistens; in the shad it fades to invisibility. It’s easy to get entangled.
Has the Holy Spirit put His finger on something in your life? A relationship? A foolish habit? A craving? Pay attention. Obey His gentle nudges and God will cut Satan’s sticky threads and set you free.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every-thing that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1 NIV)
All images are from Pixabay.com.
Resources:
This devotion is reused with permission by the website, “Christian Devotions.” This website features a devotion by a different writer each day. So each devotion is unique and frequently challenging.To explore this website, please click here: christiandevotions.us.
To access my earlier writings on Christian Devotions, click on the above link and then select “author list.” When you click on my name, all my devotions will be listed, along with my bio.
