Don’t Take the Bait!

Here’s a tool that can change the quality and direction of your life, every day:

Think wisely before you take what’s offered to you. 

Bait is used in fishing for one purpose. A shiny lure designed to attract a fish’s interest or irresistible food they want to eat is put on a hook and dropped right into their environment. When they take the bait, they’re caught. We may be smarter than fish, but we do the same. Over and over and over again…

When we open our eyes and look around for harmful bait that tempts us to bite, we’ll see there are many types everywhere, every day. Each encounter with bait is a decision point. Will you get “caught” or swim away and be free? It’s your choice.

Let’s look at four real-life examples:

Bait 1. Arguments, Disagreements, and Fighting

Let’s go ahead and lump all of these together. This is strong bait that’s hard not to react to. However, you can choose to either pour water or gasoline on the fire. For example, if someone is yelling at you, speaking the truth in a calm and normal tone of voice may cause that person to feel pretty foolish being the only one still yelling. It depends on the person and situation of course, but a book in the Holy Bible called Proverbs, mostly written by wise King Solomon between 1015 and 975 B.C., tells us this situation isn’t new. In chapter 15, verse one, we read this message that’s both ancient and still true today: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

If you take the bait… the conflict will escalate. Saying harsh words in anger will multiply the anger. It will cause unnecessary damage, pain, and take longer to heal. Sometimes it’s the cause of permanent division. It’s true for any type of relationship, whether between spouses, family, friends, and within political relations around the world.

Bait 2. Click Bait Online

An ad for things you don’t need, political messages, gossip, rumors, porn, you name it, it’s right on your phone. Here are some examples of click bait words fresh from the Apple News app this morning, accompanied by select photos to double-bait the hook: (celebrity name) finally admits… (common product) could cause… (politician name) alluded to…  Do you see the triggers we respond to? They aren’t there by accident. 

Here’s another sneaky method: when someone you know reposts something online but says, “I’m not sure if this is true or not…” C’mon people. If you just took the bait, don’t bait someone else! If you can’t prove the source is reliable, drop it.

If you take the bait… you’re putting things into your precious mind with your own eyes and ears that manipulate you. One bite leads to another. Your original thoughts and values can get blurred and change. Influencers influence! Don’t follow what harms you.

Bait 3. Unhealthy Food, Too Much Food, or Both

Here’s where we may be a little too fish-ey. We need to eat to live, not live to eat. Like everything else, there’s a balance. To interrupt these habits, acknowledge them and accept that only you can make the change – and stick with it. Don’t bring things home from the store that you know are an issue for you and “bait your own hook,” knowing full well you’ll eat them. Don’t hit the drive-thru on an impulse. Keep driving! Instead, eat that apple you brought along because you planned ahead. 🙂

If you take the bait… your health will suffer and get worse over time. Everyone already knows this is a fact, but we’re stubborn. Don’t let this bait trap you – and seriously harm you.

Bait 4. Alcohol, Drugs, Porn, and Gambling

If this bait has become your addiction, there’s a four letter word that can’t be avoided if you truly want to change your life: STOP. That’s the answer. Whatever you need to do, do it. Right now. You can make today your first day of recovery.

If you take the bait… it will ruin your life in many ways. The hook inside these activities is real – I’m not saying anything you don’t already know. Make the right choice, one at a time, over and over again. You made bad choices over and over again to get into your situation, so accept that the recovery process will be a set of good choices to make to be free again! There will be challenges, but do it anyway. If you haven’t prayed and put your faith in Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and cleanse you from the inside, start there. Then you can claim His strength and this life-changing promise found in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV): “No temptation has overtaken you, except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

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In closing, here’s what’s really going on behind the scenes in the examples we’ve looked at. It’s a spiritual battle between us and a very real enemy called the devil or satan who was cast out of Heaven for attempting to become like God (see Luke 10:18 and Revelation 12:7-9). In revenge, His goal became to destroy all that God has designed for our good. Satan is the one who baits the hooks in an attempt to drag us to Hell with him and destroy our lives. He uses every trick he can to keep us from accepting the truth about who God truly is, from accepting His gift of salvation through Jesus His Son, and from the reality of the afterlife to follow. For believers, it’s Heaven.

Did you know that the devil even tried to bait Jesus? You’ve probably heard of the true story of the temptation in the wilderness, found in Matthew 4:1-11. The devil tried to convince the Son of God to take three kinds of bait – but He didn’t take any of them. Instead, Jesus answered him by quoting truth from the Scriptures, using what God the Father said as His authority and truth. He was committed to doing God’s will and not misusing His power. He says in verse 10 (NIV): “…Away from me Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Then the devil left him.

Jesus is our example to follow when we are tempted by bait that comes into our life to harm us. We never have to take it. When we also speak the truth found in God’s Word as our authority and walk away, we can follow His path to freedom. Every step leads to Him and eternal life in Heaven.

RESET HIGHER: How well do you know what the Bible says? If you have one, is it dusty or on the shelf? Do you have a Bible app on your phone or other device, but spend time instead on your socials or playing games and never open it? To be ready to answer the enemy and not take his bait as Jesus Himself did, you need to know the promises that God has written for you to use! Get reading again and start writing a list of verses that speak to you where you are. Claim them for strength and encouragement, especially when life is challenging. You can also visit GotAnswers.org and look up a question you have about the Bible. Use both to transform your life for the better.