Don't Take the Bait

...we are not ignorant of [Satan's] devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11

Satan, whom the Bible refers to as 'the tempter', works like a seasoned fisherman in two ways. First, he knows that fish get hungry, and he knows when they'll be biting. Understand this: you were born with a hole in your soul that only God can fill, and unless you turn to God and build a relationship with Him, you'll keep trying to fill that hole with the wrong things. 'Where can I find the right things?' you ask. The Psalmist answers, '...In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore' (Psalm 16:11 NKJV). There's a marked difference in how Joseph responded to temptation with Potiphar's wife and how David responded to it with Bathsheba. David looked, and kept looking, but Joseph fled. As a result, David reaped terrible heartache and Joseph reaped great blessing. The Bible says, '...if sinners entice you, do not consent' (Proverbs1:10 NKJV). Be honest with yourself. Acknowledge that there are places you shouldn't go, habits you shouldn't indulge, and company you should never be in. Second, he knows what bait will hook the fish. Next time somebody fails and you're tempted to think, 'I'd never do that', stop and ask yourself, 'What would it take to make me bite?' You may not know the answer to that question at the moment, but satan does. And he is patient; he'll wait a lifetime if he has to, he's in no hurry. He doesn't mind whether you fall through 'youthful lusts', or on the last few laps through more subtle sins, so long as you lose the race. So, 'don't take the bait'.