The Devil Made Me Do It!

My children have learned how to blame each other for their choices. Just the other day, I walked into the kitchen to the sounds of Gracie and Will pounding their forks and spoons on the glass table. Boy, were they having fun! They were chanting a little tune in unison and hitting their cutlery at the same time. I got onto Will first, only because he looked like he was having the most fun. "Gracie made me do it!" he said. Then I asked him the age old question that most parents ask their kids, only because our parents asked us first: "If Gracie jumped off the Tallahatchie River Bridge, would you?" (I know most of you have heard it with the 'Brooklyn Bridge' inserted, but since I'm from the delta, we used geographic locations we could relate to.)

Satan's primary objective is to get us into sin. His target is our mind, or as the Bible often refers to is, our heart. Sin doesn't originate in our actions; it begins in our mind. This is why Paul urges us in Ephesians 4:23, "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind."

What happens when ungodly thoughts go unchecked? A thought can become an action. If repeated enough, that action becomes a habit. Eventually it can become a stronghold, a base of oppression for the enemy.

Satan wants to ensnare Christians because when God's children are caught in sin, God has to discipline us and we often blame God for our problems. A child of God who is involved in sin is not ready to be used by God. 2 Timothy 2:21-22 says, "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."

In your present state, are you useful to the Master?