The Devil Made Me Do It

 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” (James 1:14)

Catching a mouse with peanut butter on a mousetrap works every time. Why? The irresistible fragrance lures the mouse; the overwhelming desire to have the bait overrides the danger involved. When fishing with a worm, its wiggling attracts the attention of interested passersby. Some fish investigate the enticing lure and cautiously nibble the bait, while others are unsuspecting or over-confident and take the bait to satisfy their appetite.

God told Adam and Eve they could eat from every tree in the garden except one (Genesis 2:16). The serpent approached the couple standing near the tree of good and evil, convincing them they would be as gods, knowing good and evil, if they ate the fruit. So, they ate. The devil didn’t make them eat it; the tree nor its fruit made them eat it. They were drawn to the fruit by their desire for the forbidden. What do we do when we see a sign saying, “Wet Paint?” Touch the object.

Yielding to temptation is a sin, not the lure that draws you. This world and the enemy of your soul dangle bait, enticing you to live contrary to God’s commandments. Succumbing to sin’s attractions can cause over-confidence or failure, then you’re overwhelmed with guilt and condemnation, making life seem hopeless. The goal is to destroy your testimony for Christ.

After a season of fasting, the devil tempted Jesus when He was most vulnerable: hungry, thirsty, and alone in the wilderness. But Jesus didn’t yield to the devious temptations, nor did He let His strengths be a source of pride. Instead, He turned to the truth of God’s Word, and the devil left Him (Matthew 4:1–11).  We, too, can be victorious over temptation’s lures: Stay alert and avoid the bait. Surrender to God, resist the devil, and he will leave you (James 4:7).