Help Others Recover From the Snare

It would be easy for us to give up on the lost. It would be easy for us to be impatient with them. Have you ever considered the state of the lost? Yes, they are lost without Jesus, but have you ever really thought about what that is? I’m not talking about the eternal consequences. I am talking about their current state.

Consider the following statement: The lost are snared by the devil and taken captive by him at his will.

That might sound like an excuse. But that is what scripture tells us.

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
2 Timothy 2:24-26

We are to do our part. We are not to strive. We are to be gentle, apt to teach and patient. If God peradventure draws them, they may recover themselves.

In short, we do not want to get in God’s way. We want God to use us to tell the lost the truth of Jesus Christ. Remember, only God can do the drawing. They still have free will, but they need the opportunity to recover themselves. We need to be sure we are an instrument in the hand of God and not a stumbling block because we do want them to escape from the devil’s snare.

From where they are standing, they are prisoners. They are not seeing the truth. The truth is the key that will set them free.

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:5-6

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17

You’ve heard it said that people can see Jesus in you and that you do not have to say anything. Where the lost are concerned, that does not really stand up to Romans 10:17 does it? Let’s read that again.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17

It’s the Word of God that brings faith. Next time you think you are witnessing, think about Romans 10:17. When you are witnessing to the lost, snared by the devil, there is nothing like the Word of God to give them faith. There is no replacement.

LIFE APPLICATION

Today’s challenge is to ask yourself if you are patient. Are you gentle? Do you strive? Do you instruct others? Do you really instruct others? While you are letting them see Jesus in you, do you give them the Word of God? Do you just give them a smile?

If you are witnessing to a lost person, keep giving them scripture. If you know they have an issue that is challenging them, give them scripture. Be sure to let them hear you praise the Lord for His goodness. Share Jesus, and share what Jesus has done for you!