“So give yourselves to God. Stand against the devil, and he will run away from you.” (James 4:7 ERV)
On our last road trip, my husband noticed that our car was acting weird. We were on the freeway, and there was a subtle vibration coming from one of the tires. Plus, the gas mileage was lower than usual. I thought maybe the road was just bumpy, but my husband pulled over to the shoulder and looked at the tires. Everything looked okay, so we got back in the car and kept going. After we got home, we had our local mechanic check out the car. He said the issues could have been related to a rock stuck in one of our tires or lower quality gasoline.
“It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” (The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis)
When we are agitated or exhausted, it’s natural to blame it on external circumstances. Invisible sins can go unnoticed. Their effects are often subtle, so we may choose to ignore them. Here are a few common iniquities that may be hard to recognize as sin: lethargy, apathy, judgmentalism, contempt, gluttony, self-righteousness, gossip, vanity, covetousness, impatience, worry, entitlement, materialism, a craving for distraction. Subtle sins may lead us into destruction gradually, but they are just as dangerous. Thus, we must give ourselves over to God and ask Him to help us remove these little vices before they cause major damage.
Lord, protect us from evil. Help us to recognize it in all its various forms, so that we don't unwittingly give it space in our lives.
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