"Playing with a Bear" This is the weekly email devotional of WhoUWith? Ministries (2003)   "If you poke a bear, you better use a long stick!" -Unknown Would you march up to a black bear and give it a real good poke in the ribs? If you would, then you're dumber than I look! No one in their right mind would provoke an animal that could crush you and serve you as hors d'oeuvre to his friends. There is no doubt we would be careful with a bear, but why do we poke around with sin and not take it just as seriously? Sin can crush your spirit the same as a bear can crush your body. What does God’s Word say?: Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!" Matthew 26:41 If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin. But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. I Corinthians 10:12-13 There he told them, "Pray that you will not be overcome by temptation. Luke 22:40 I'm going to tell you something you may not have heard before...sin is tempting...sin can appear to be fun. If it wasn't tempting, then we never would fall into sin. Do you know what I'm learning day by day? The closer I get to tempting situations the easier it is to sin...conversely, the closer I walk with Christ the harder it is to give into to sin and go against the Lord. I doubt any of us are going to play with a bear today, but how many of us are going to play with sin?! Just a thought!