What’s the best way to avoid this dangerous straggling? Get in the middle of the pack! How can we avoid being hardened by sin? “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb 3:13). Rather than wallow and hide in my sin, how can I get it in the light?

One of the great tricks of the devil is to get someone alone. Have you ever seen those videos of wolves attacking a herd? Have you noticed how they attack? They don’t go for the big fella at the front of the pack, and they don’t go for the little one in the middle of the pack. They find the straggler. The one who is already on the outskirts of the herd. They get him further separated from the herd and then slowly wear him down until they can bring him down. This is what the devil does. He loves to get us alone and then slowly wear us down and discourage us. Let me warn you here: Don’t get singled out. 

It’s Dangerous

Don’t stop coming around. This is when you are most vulnerable. The devil loves to see you step away from the normal means of grace. He loves it when you only attend church just enough to avoid church discipline. He loves it when he hears you downplay the importance of the gatherings of the church. Or even more deceptively, he loves it when you show up to the gathering, but you choose to have no meaningful interactions. Just show up late and leave early. If this is ringing a bell in your soul, don’t ignore it. You’re in dangerous territory.

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