Satan Can Only Tempt
By David Chadwick
One of the most precious gifts that God has given you is free will. He will never coerce you to do anything.
Why is free will so important to God? Love can exist only within the context of choice. My love for my wife, Marilynn, is beyond words. She has loved me for almost four decades.
Yet I awaken every morning with the reality that she may freely choose not to love me. That’s the risk love must take.
Love can exist only if there is free will.
Similarly, Satan cannot force you to do anything. He can only tempt you to choose rebellion against God.
The evil one is much like a crafty fisherman. He drops an enticing lure in front of the fish. He bobs the lure up and down, trying to convince the fish to bite. When it does, the hook is set, and the fish is that evening’s dinner.
The lure didn’t force the fish to bite. It only tempted it to do so.
The enemy is regularly dropping the world’s destructive lures before your eyes. He entices you to take his bait. Once you’re hooked, he will torment you to render your Christian witness impotent.
What is the answer?
Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation” (Matthew 6:13 NIV). Every day, you need to pray, “Lord Jesus, lead me away from anything that could damage our relationship. Move me away from whatever would hurt my eternal soul.”
Jesus honors this kind of prayer. It’s the best way to thwart Satan’s wiles.
The evil one can’t force you to do anything. But he knows your weaknesses. He will tempt you relentlessly.
Pray for the Spirit’s leading. Then walk away from temptation.
Jesus’s power to choose not to sin lives in you.
Stand strong in the attack
God’s equipped you with exactly what you need to defend yourself from the devil when he comes creeping into your life.
David Chadwick’s CD set, The Enemy, shows you how to use the tools God has given you to resist Satan’s advances.
In it, you’ll learn how to:
- Use God’s Word, the ultimate defense, to deflect evil
- Resist the Devil’s advances
- Pray to fight temptation
- Submit to God and let Him work it out for your good
The Enemy is our gift to thank you for your donation to give more reason for hope in Jesus. So request it below when you give.
We pray it helps you stand strong against your enemy!
For more from Moments of Hope, visit us at MomentsofHope.org.
