Your Daily Devotional for August 19, 2007

 

August 19,  2007

 

 

Satan's Attacks

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness."

 

1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

 

 

Driving down the highway can be a dangerous thing. Of course there are the dangers of speeding cars, reckless drivers, and hazardous driving conditions, but there are also spiritual dangers as well. Along most major highways are billboards. While these billboards are a great tool for advertisement and an often welcomed break to the monotony of driving, they are also a tool the devil is using to distract many Christians from moral purity. This is just one avenue Satan uses to attack God's holiness of marriage.

 

We saw yesterday that God desires that we would stay morally pure. In His seventh commandment, He commands us to abstain from adultery. But while we are commanded to keep ourselves physically and mentally pure, the devil seeks to make us fall by attacking us.

 

Satan attacks us by lying to us about moral purity. The world today has told us that staying pure is not necessary anymore. We have been fed the lie that as long as you stay safe and avoid diseases there is nothing wrong with losing your moral purity. While the devil attacks us with these lies, God commands us to abstain from impurity and keep His commandment.

 

There is a popular phrase which states, "The grass is always greener on the other side." The devil would like us to believe that the world has more fun and more joy than we do. He lies to tell us that the Christian life is a set of rules and regulations, but this could not be farther from the truth! The Christian life is about a relationship with God. True joy comes from pleasing God and living for Him. Do not believe the lies the devil uses to get you to fall from moral purity. Living for God and obeying Him is the best life we could have.

 

Satan not only lies about purity, he also tempts us to make us fall. Our world is so full of moral temptations that it is often hard to go anywhere without the devil attacking our purity. James 1:14-15 says, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." God tells us that we will be tempted. But just because we are tempted does not mean we must fall into sin! God has provided His strength for us to stand up against the devil's temptations and preserve our moral purity.

 

Professional basketball player A.C. Green once commented on his vow of moral purity: "When I became a Christian, I made a vow. I resolved not to be with a woman until I was married…We all have the power of choice, but once used, our choice then has power over us." The devil seems to be attacking our moral purity now more than ever before! We must commit to remain morally pure physically and mentally.

 

Are you resisting the devil's lies and temptations? Don't believe him when he tempts you to sin. Don't let the devil make you fall. We all have God's power to help us in this area, and we all need it desperately. Spend time right now with God. Ask Him for His power to resist the devil's attacks today. Always remember that living for God and serving Him is the only source of true joy in life.

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Psalm 103-104 • 1 Corinthians 2

 

 

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