For thought and meditation

[rl69]

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

—2 Corinthians 11:3

It is in the human mind that we can commit some horrible sins. We can reach into the past through our memories, and we can reach into the future through our imaginations. And often when the devil wants to tempt us, he will get us to simply think about something.

“You don’t have to do it,” he’ll whisper. “Just think about it. That’s all. It doesn’t have to go any further than this.” That’s how Eve was hit: Eve, check it out. Have you ever seen a piece of fruit like this?

Satan attacked Eve’s mind. The apostle Paul wrote, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Why do we get tempted in our minds? Because it is command central. It is here that we reason. It is here that we contemplate. It is here that we even fantasize. It is here that we dream. The Bible says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4–5).

First you think about it. Then it transfers into your actions. After a while, thinking about it isn’t enough. After a while, fantasizing about it isn’t enough. You want to take it to the next level. So you start flirting. You start touching. You start tasting of it. You start playing with it. And the next thing you know, you are caught up in it.

The devil is subtle. He wants to get you to dabble. Stop listening to him. He is a liar.

[claude]

People don't need Satan urging them to sin, they do fine on their own, which is not to say he won't, but is to say he is blamed way to often for the natural lust of the carnal being.

(Galatians 5:16-18) "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. {17} For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. {18} But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."

(1 John 2:16) "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

[Wayne Smith]

The Catholics see three enemies - the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. If the job gets done by the world or my desires Satan has to do nothing. That is not to say Satan isn't involved in the World - pornography is a good example.

I have long been facinated by the fact that James tells us to 'submit to God, resist Satan and he will flee from you', but the Bible continually tells us to flee temptation. Then I realized that temptation is inside of me - if I don't want it, it ain't tempting! To flee temptation is to flee or avoid opportunities to do what I want that is sinful.

[Pine Baron]

If you don't want to get burned, don't reach into the fire.

[Blackwater]

This makes me think of a fellow I know. Don't get to see him often, but he's about as simple a man as you can get. He has always had trouble learning "scholastic" things and concepts, but show him how to do something, and he's got it down pat. He's not a "mental giant," and grew up very poor, but was always happy. Thus, he disproves that old concept that violence and hatred is bred in depravity and neglect! He has a little wife who he dotes on, and a houseful of kids he loves and provides for reliably. Yet when he's in church, he's probably the most attentive person in the whole place! I'm not sure how much of the sermons he internalizes. I suspect he just sits in awe at all the good words being said from the pulpit, and all the love shown to all his friends there. When there's a need for someone to do something that he's capable of, he's the first in line to do it.

When I think of him, I always think of Chuck Swindoll's little writing on "Attitude," and how it can make or break a church, a family, or a whole nation. The gift of happiness is something those who EXPECT to get all they want in life can never really know. But poor, depraved folks like my friend will never know anything BUT happiness. Even in suffering and trial, he always finds something to be thankful for!

Would that more of us could be like my simple friend, who is such an inspiration to me.