Don't Get Stuck in a Tarbaby

I'm sure at some point in your life you've read the book, "Brer Rabbit and the Tarbaby." It was one of my favorites growing up. I always laughed at the rabbit when he got mad at the tarbaby because it wouldn't talk back to him. And I'd laugh even harder when he found himself stuck in the tar.
As I've gotten older, I've gotten myself "caught in the tar" quite a few times. I've fallen for the tricks of Satan and found myself in the middle of a huge mess. The smartest thing that Brer Rabbit could have done was to pass on by the Tarbaby, but he was determined to make him talk, not realizing that Brer Fox had put the Tarbaby there to trick him.
The smartest thing we can do is pass on by at the first sign of temptation, no matter how innocent it may look. I mean Brer Rabbit had no idea that he'd get stuck in tar when he determined to make that baby talk to him, but it didn't take long before he was in a huge mess.
Brer Rabbit got away from Brer Fox that day, but he was still covered in tar. Even if we do fall for temptation, God gives us a way to repent and come back to Him, but there are still consequences for what we have done.
So, when you're thinking about doing something, look ahead. Are there going to be major consequences for what you're planning to do? Make sure that you aren't getting ready to fall into a trap! And, if you think there's no way out, remember God always gives us a way of escape! (I Corinthians 10:13)