The Tempter

Satan is a master at tempting us to sin. In fact his temptations are old, finding their way with the first woman - Eve (Gen.3). So it is wise for you and I to heed the words of the apostles regarding this enemy of the soul. Peter said, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pet.5:8). James adds "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (Jas.4:7). Don't be fooled by his temptations. Jesus said that he is "a liar and the father of it" (Jn.8:44). As Thomas Manton wrote, "If you yield to Satan in the least, he will carry you further and further, till he has left you under a stupefied or terrified conscience: stupefied, till thou hast lost all thy tenderness. A stone at the top of a hill, when it begins to roll down, ceases not till it comes to the bottom. Thou thinkest it is but yielding a little, and so by degrees are carried on, till thou hast sinned away all thy profession, and all principles of conscience, by the secret witchery of his temptations." Yielding to Satan won't cost you your salvation but you will sure feel you have lost it. Another lie that he is good at. Heed God's Word by being "sober" and "vigiliant." That is the key to resisting him.