It happened last Saturday. I let Max out to chase away some cows that had wandered into our yard. Streaking off like a shot, Max ran toward the nearest cow, barking and snarling all the way. Closer and closer he got, scaring me by his proximity to the cow’s sharp hooves.

“Max, get away,” I yelled, running as fast as I could to catch up.

Max ignored me and kept snapping until the cow stopped and kicked up both heels, his left foot catching Max on the hindquarter. Max yelped, but instead of running away, he went after the cow with renewed fury. Finally, I managed to distract him long enough to get my hands on him. He was shaking and exhausted but otherwise, relatively uninjured.

That’s when it occurred to me.

Despite what God has to say about sin, we go after it, ignoring the hurt we cause ourselves along the way, thinking with each step we take that we will somehow conquer it. Blinded by our own lust and temptation, we barely feel the scars left upon our flesh until, shuddering and shaking, we fall exhausted at the Father’s feet.

It is not a victory to keep placing ourselves in situations where we are tempted to fail. Instead, God warns us that doing so puts sin at our very door.