1 John 3: 8-10 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
In this devotional, the last of the three part series on Sins Of The Flesh, we will discuss Satan. In our real-life drama described in “The Tempted” and “The Temptress” there was a player briefly mentioned, ‘the well dressed local gentlemen.” He was the "arranger", and the "director" of the evenings activities. He was the orchestrator of the scene that unfolded. It was instructional to watch him play out his role. He sat at the end of the table watching, and gently encouraging. In the pairings of older men and young ladies, he remained unattached. He was unencumbered if you will. No distractions from a female companion. He was alone in his work. When more beer or tequila was needed, he summoned a waiter. When the musicians were finished, it was his money that paid the fiddler so-to-speak. His role was to just encourage the participants to let human nature take it’s course. Just the right expressions, mannerisms, words& actions to accomplish the goal. It bothers me even today, several weeks removed. I was given this incredible opportunity to be a spectator to how sin plays out in the lives of others. I was blessed, if you will, with this opportunity to examine the players and with clarity to analyze the roles. I was given a tremendous object lesson by the experience. The sadness still lingers in my mind today. It was tragic. In many respects, I am still replaying the drama in my own mind and thinking, there but for the grace of God go I.
When Christ enters our lives, we are forever changed. We are “God’s seed” and we “remain in Him.” The ability to resist deliberate sinful behavior is within us because God is in us. When we stop praying for help, when we stop believing without God we are nothing, then we fall victim to Satan. Pride goes before the fall. Our foolish pride that we can handle it all by ourselves will lead us to err. It happens. But when we truly give up the old and embrace the new person we are in Jesus Christ, the circumstances are changed. Do not believe for one minute that temptation will end. If anything it may increase. But the ability to resist the lure of temptation, and to remain among those “born of God” increases. With God, all things are possible. Similarly without God many things are also possible. The difference is in the results. With God there is grace, love, and salvation. Without God there is death. It is a simple choice. Chose wisely my friends, chose wisely.
PRAYER: Almighty God, we poor sinners stand convicted. We are by nature sinful in though, word and deed by what we have done and by what we have left undone. Have mercy upon us. You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ to take on the sins of the world. His sacrifice reconciled all mankind with You. Help us Dear Lord to remember that we are the children of God. Keep our hearts and faith strong when temptation comes knocking at our door. This we ask in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.
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