Don’t Be Easily Fooled

James 1:12, 14-15 ESV
“Blessed is the man (or woman) who remains steadfast under trial, for when he (or she) has stood the test he (or she) will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him… each person is tempted (tested) when he (or she) is lured and enticed by his (or her) own desire.  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

The Message Bible is a bit off beat but it makes an attempt to make it easy to understand: “The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.” (Message)

Temptation, failure and sin is real. Yes satan knows exactly what pushes our buttons, but to bring this back around, James states, “Blessed is the man (or woman) who remains steadfast under trial, for when he (or she) has stood the test he (or she) will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him…”

That is the goal, to stay strong through times of testing. God knows we are human, we slip and fall we just can’t have a cavalier attitude about slipping, falling and allowing our flesh to master us. Temptations come in all sorts of packages, it can be something in the past that used to master us, or it can be something subtle, simple that we give no thought to like anger, jealousy or just being curt with our words.

I knew someone once that thought it was nothing to speak their peace about anything and everything, they had no filter. To me, that can be just as harmful as rebellion, or adultery. In these days and times we have to be smart, Satan can fool even Christians to be foolish and out of control.

Prayer:
Lord, guard my heart, my soul and my mind from the trickery of the enemy, he doesn’t need my help to do his bidding. Keep me from the paths of destruction, make me strong and vigilant.