Must we be seduced?

Pr. 7:21: “With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with her flattering lips she seduced him.”

Proverbs 7 is a lesson about a crafty harlot that entices, and about keeping wisdom at all costs, so as not to yield to her flattery. We are faced with flattering, enticing temptations every day of our lives. Our temptations are all different…they may be the harlot, lying to succeed or look good, stealing to have our desires, idolizing something that is not God, talking about our brothers and sisters to make ourselves look witty, indulging in drugs or alcohol to mimic feelings of joy and happiness. Whatever our temptation, we see in verse 21 that we are enticed and flattered by them…and then we yield.

Praise God, however, that does not have to be the case. We don’t walk around like Lemmings with no choice in our actions. God created us with free will and we do have a choice. Hebrews 2:18 tells us that Jesus, Himself, was tempted and “He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Hebrews 3:15-16 tells us, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in ALL points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

1 John 4:4 says, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them [the spirits of this world], because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” When faced with temptation it is difficult not to yield. Satan piles it on thick, causing us to believe that God will never be enough…that we must have our temptation to be complete. He is enticing us and flattering us with his lies.

Paul testified that God’s grace was sufficient. Joseph testified that although his brothers meant evil against him, God meant it for His good to bring about good plans and a future. Abraham left all he had to follow the Lord and was blessed with descendents as numerous as the stars. Noah ignored the enticement of men and sin and, with godly fear, built an ark with which God saved his family and him.

Testimonies could be written in countless books of the ways that people have found God to be enough. Satan entices, flatters, seduces, but the Word of God is the only truth. We must stock-pile the Word into our hearts and minds and boldly call upon Jesus when we need aid. He will give us all we need, and it is impossible for Him to lie. We must dare to trust Him with it all.

Feeling adventurous today?

jamie