As a child, I used to set up simple box traps in my backyard, hoping to catch rabbits and squirrels. I’d carefully position a stick to prop up the box, place some bait underneath, and run a long string back to my house. Then I’d wait, ready to pull the string and catch my prize.
Looking back, those childhood traps serve as a powerful metaphor for how Satan often works in our lives. He sets up simple traps, baiting us with temptation, waiting for us to stumble into his snare. And all too often, we take the bait, springing the trap on ourselves.
Jesus warned us that stumbling blocks are inevitable in this life. Using the Greek word “scandalon” – literally meaning the stick of a trap – He told His disciples that things causing people to stumble are bound to come. We can’t avoid encountering temptation and trials, but we don’t have to fall for Satan’s tricks. There’s a way to build our lives that keeps us from taking the bait, even in our most vulnerable moments.
The key is following Jesus’ example and teachings. Today, I want to share three crucial lessons from Christ that will help us construct lives resistant to Satan’s traps:
1. Make Jesus Your Cornerstone
In ancient building practices, the cornerstone was the first and most important stone laid. Every other stone was positioned in reference to it. Jesus claimed to be the prophesied cornerstone of God’s kingdom, the foundation on which everything else is built.
He illustrated this with a parable about tenants in a vineyard who mistreated and killed the landowner’s servants and son. The religious leaders Jesus was addressing didn’t realize He was talking about them – how they had rejected God’s prophets and were plotting against God’s Son.
Jesus then quoted Psalm 118: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” He was declaring Himself to be that cornerstone, the foundation of God’s kingdom. And He presented His listeners – and us – with a critical choice: Will we fall on Christ in humility and build our lives on Him? Or will we reject Him and be crushed under God’s judgment?
Making Jesus our cornerstone means tearing down anything else we’ve wrongly built our lives upon – our own wisdom, worldly success, or misplaced trust in other people. It requires humble surrender. But it’s the only way to construct a life that can withstand Satan’s attacks.
2. Build on the Rock, Not Sand
In one of His most famous teachings, Jesus compared two builders – one wise, one foolish. The wise man built his house on rock; the foolish man built on sand. When the storms came, only the house on the rock remained standing.
The key difference? Both men heard Jesus’ words, but only the wise builder put them into practice. The foolish builder ignored the warning and took the bait of an appealing beach property, pulling the trap down on his own head.
It seems so obvious – of course you shouldn’t build a house on sand! And yet, how often do we ignore wisdom and choose the appealing option, even when we can clearly see the danger? Satan’s traps are often just that obvious, but we walk right into them anyway.
Notice that both houses faced the same severity of storm. Following Jesus doesn’t mean we won’t face difficulties. The question is: when the storms come, will your life stand firm or collapse?
We must build our lives on the unchanging rock of Christ and His teachings, not the shifting sands of this world. Anything else – money, education, relationships, success – is ultimately unstable ground. As C.S. Lewis wisely said, “There are lots of nice things you can do with sand, but do not try building a house on it.”
So how do we build on the rock? Jesus made it simple: hear His words and put them into practice. We must be people who consistently study Scripture, seeking to understand Christ’s teachings. But head knowledge isn’t enough – we have to apply what we learn, allowing it to shape our choices and character.
3. Love God, Love People
When asked to name the greatest commandment, Jesus didn’t hesitate: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.” Then He added a second, equally important command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
With those two principles, Jesus summed up the entire Old Testament law and prophets. Everything He taught and modeled centered on loving God and loving people. If we align our lives with these two commands, we’ll build something that looks like God’s kingdom and can withstand life’s fiercest storms.
Consider the story of Agnes, born in Albania in 1910. When she was only 8, her father died tragically. That devastating loss could have become a lifelong stumbling block, filling her with anger and bitterness toward God and others. Instead, her mother used it as an opportunity to teach compassion, often inviting the poor and homeless into their home.
Agnes grew up to become Mother Teresa, devoting her life to serving the poorest of the poor in Kolkata. Because Christ was her cornerstone, she didn’t build her life on grief or anger. She built on the firm foundation of loving God and loving people, leaving an incredible legacy that has inspired millions.
Putting It Into Practice: BLESS
So how can we practically live out Christ’s command to love God and love people? One helpful tool I use is the acronym BLESS:
Begin with prayer: Open your heart to God daily, asking Him to fill you with His love and show you how to love others.
Listen: Pay attention both to God’s voice through Scripture and prayer, and to the needs and struggles of people around you.
Eat: Be intentional about sharing meals and building relationships. The people you eat with most often tend to be those closest to you relationally.
Serve: As you get to know people’s needs, look for practical ways to help and show Christ’s love through action.
Share: Tell others about the hope you have in Jesus. How will people know He’s your cornerstone if you don’t share your story?
I don’t know what specific stumbling blocks Satan has placed in your path. But I know they’re there because Jesus said they’re inevitable in this fallen world. Maybe you’re acutely aware of the traps surrounding you right now. Perhaps you’re struggling with anger, hurt, or temptation that makes Satan’s bait look appealing.
Don’t take it. Instead:
1. Make Jesus the cornerstone of your life. Tear down anything else you’ve wrongly built upon, and construct your life with Christ as the foundation.
2. Build on the rock by hearing and practicing Jesus’ teachings. Study Scripture diligently and apply what you learn.
3. Center your life on loving God and loving people. Use tools like BLESS to put this into consistent action.
If you do these things, I’m confident you’ll fall for Satan’s traps less often. Even better, you’ll help others avoid those traps too. That’s the mission of our church – to help people take next steps with God as we draw nearer to Jesus ourselves.
It’s a simple message, but it’s not easy to live out. We won’t get it perfect the first time – or the hundredth time. But let’s extend grace to ourselves and each other as we practice following Jesus. As we’re formed more and more into His likeness, may God receive all the honor and glory.
Don’t take the bait. Build your life on Christ instead. It’s the only foundation that will never be shaken.
By consistently putting these practices into action, we can build lives centered on loving God and loving people like Jesus did.
Don’t Take the Bait
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