Satan is pretty sneaky; he's master of the "just a little bit more" mentality. He knows what we want, what we’re capable of, and how far we’re willing to go to get it . . . and loves to push us a little bit further.
He likes to tease us with a tiny taste of what we know is there. He likes to bring us to the edge of our standards and beckon us a step closer. He likes to entice us with the thoughts of what we want, whispering that we really can have our desires.
I’m going to be honest – this can be hard to resist. Who hasn’t sinned “just a little bit” with the intent of not wholeheartedly sinning? I have. Somehow I justify it at the time, and after Satan has lured me closer than I anticipated, I jump back and wonder how I got into the present mess. I am not blaming Satan – I have free will, we have free will. God divinely created us that way and I am forever thankful.
I am, however, acknowledging my nature to want “just a little bit,” compounded by Satan’s tactic of “have just a little bit more.”
Praise the Lord for His strength otherwise I fear there would be no way out. Praise the Lord for His everlasting, unconditional love otherwise I fear there would be no hope. Praise the Lord for His guidance and wisdom otherwise I fear there would be nothing to stand on. Praise the Lord for His forgiveness otherwise I fear there would be no reconciliation. Praise the Lord for His justice otherwise I fear there would be rampant irresponsibility. Praise the Lord just because.
Yes, Satan may be sneaky, but the Lord is much greater and powerful. We are human and therefore we are tempted, but with the strength, love, wisdom, forgiveness, and justice of the Lord, we are able to withstand Satan every time he entices us with “just a little bit more.”
1 comment:
I was reading a book the other day and it was talking about the irelivanvy of criticism. How it is our natural tendency to "justify" ourselves.
It interest me how God in his infinite wisdom uses positive reinforcement and not condemnation. He offers us the world and all eternity, for those in Christ there is no more condemnation.
Divine parenting skills and yet so often we "Just sin a little". Just dissapoint him a little. Just ignore his will a tiny bit.
Yet he is faithful after our faild attempts of self justification, to recieve our repentance without criticism and put us in his shadow of blessing once again.
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