Mercy And Forgiveness

Psalm 103:1-14 

We all need to find forgiveness, both from the Lord God and from our fellow man.  There are times when some people feel that their sins are so numerous or so abhorrent that they cannot be forgiven.  And there are some people, whether currently alive or already deceased, that we might feel are too sinful, or whose sins we consider far too terrible to be forgiven.  Today’s psalm describes many of the blessings that the Lord bestows upon us, two of them being His mercy and forgiveness.  Let’s take a closer look.

Psalm 103 is one of my top three or four favorite psalms.  Written by King David, this psalm enumerates God’s many blessings.  David opens with a call to bless and praise God because He brings us forgiveness, healing, and redemption.   He also recounts that the Lord is merciful, slow to anger, and gracious.  When we are feeling overwhelmed with our sins, feeling that God could not possibly forgive us, feeling that we can’t forgive ourselves for what we may have done, we can look into Psalm 103 to see how loving, forgiving, and merciful the Lord is to His children.

Though King David has been called a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), there were some times when he fell into serious sin.  We remember when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, and then after she became pregnant, he ordered her husband Uriah to be killed in battle so he could marry her, in order to cover up his sin.  He certainly needed the Lord’s forgiveness, and he found it.  He knew first-hand how merciful and forgiving the Lord is.  David could truthfully say that the Lord forgives all of our iniquities when we come to Him in confession and repentance (vs. 3).  He doesn’t just forgive the “little sins”, such as when we grumble to our family members, or get aggravated with the neighbor when they act like a dimwit.  He will forgive us all our sins.  And we need to remember, that if someone, no matter how terrible a sinner they are, comes to God, calling upon Him for salvation, He will forgive them all of their sins, as well.  No one is too great a sinner for God to never forgive them when they call upon Him.

In verse 6 we read that the Lord will bring justice to those who are oppressed.  Sometimes we can be oppressed by a harsh government or a harsh boss.  There are times, though, when our oppressor is the devil, the enemy of our souls. He can bring oppression to us in many ways, frequently through our mind.  One way he uses is by making us feel as if our sins are not forgiven, that we have too many sins, or our sins are too grievous to ever be forgiven.  Then when we begin to go down that path, we may start to feel that we are not truly saved, and that we are not one of God’s children.  That is one of Satan’s favorite tools which he uses against believers, particularly spiritually young believers.  God can deliver those who are oppressed by the devil.  He has done so through our faith in Him, and by what He has done for us at the Cross (Acts 10:38).

God is also slow to anger (vs. 8).  Too many of us are so quick to anger and to take offense by what others say or do.  We dole out our forgiveness very sparingly, and only when we feel like it, when we feel the other has “paid enough” for their transgressions.  Far too few people ever show mercy to others.  Yet that is not the case with the Lord.  David knew he could find mercy and forgiveness from the Lord.  He saw that God is slow to anger and abounding in mercy.

God’s mercy abounds, as David found.  He knew that if he got what he deserved, he would probably be dead, as the punishment in the Law of Moses for both adultery and murder was the death penalty.  Yet God did not give him what he deserved (vs. 10).  Where would we be if we got what we deserved for our sins?  One thing is for sure is that we wouldn’t be given a place in heaven!  However, when we call upon the Lord Jesus, accepting His death for our sins and taking Him for our Savior, He has mercy on us, mercy that is higher than the heavens above us (vs. 11).

Once God forgives us of our sins, they are gone forever.  Scripture says that God removes them from us, as far as the east is from the west (vs. 12).  Just as one cannot bring the east and west together, so our sins will not be brought back to us once God forgives.  We may say we forgive someone for their transgressions against us, but frequently we bring them up again, reminding them of this or that which they did to us.  God will never do that to us.  They are as far away as the east is from the west.

Finally, in our passage today, David describes God as a most loving Father, who pities His children (vs. 13-14).  Good parents have compassion on their young children, realizing their weaknesses, immaturity, and ignorance.  God is better than any human parent, and He remembers that we are human, that we were created from the dust, and as a parent, He teaches us with patience, love, and mercy.

Knowing God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness, we can say with King David, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name”.

Do You See Your Burning Bush?

Exodus 3:1-15 

Our Scripture reading today, for the Third Sunday of Lent, tells the account of when the Lord commissioned Moses into His service, to, next to the Apostle Paul, one of the greatest callings recorded in the Bible.  What was Moses’ response?  Did he eagerly jump into the calling that the Lord gives him, or did he shy away?  And as we look into our Scripture, let us consider whether we are open to the Lord’s calling of ourselves into His service, whatever that may be for us.  He has something for each of us to do for His Kingdom, most not as spectacular as Moses or Paul, but an assignment He calls us to do.  Are we alert and eager to hear Him?

Moses, who had grown up the pampered adopted son of a Pharaoh’s daughter, had to flee the country.  Now, many years later, he was a humble shepherd in Midian, caring for his father-in-law’s sheep.  As our Scripture passage opens, Moses was caring for the sheep near Mt. Horeb (also known as Sinai), and he observed a bush that is on fire (vs. 1-3).  As he observed this, Moses noticed that the bush didn't burn up.  This was a miraculous event.  After having been a shepherd for 40 years, if this was anything natural, he would not have taken any special notice.  But Moses did, as it had attracted his notice and curiosity.

As Moses came closer, the Lord God called to him from the burning bush (vs. 4-6).  He told Moses to remove his sandals, as this was holy ground.  God was present there, thus the place was sacred and holy.  Wherever God is, that place is holy.  And it is holy only as long as God is there.  At God’s command, Moses removed his sandals and covered his face.  Taking off his shoes was an act of reverence, conveying his own unworthiness before God. God is our friend, but He is also our sovereign Lord.  To approach Him frivolously shows a lack of respect and sincerity.

The Lord proceeded to tell Moses that He was fully aware of the oppression that His people were going through in Egypt, and that He had plans to deliver them from their slavery (vs. 7-10).  He told Moses that He wanted him to go back into Egypt as His spokesman before Pharaoh, and lead the people out.  God knows what His children are going through.  He is not an oblivious and uncaring God.  He knew then, and He knows now what each and every one of us are going through.  God hears our cries, and sees our troubles.  In His sovereign way, He moves to deliver us from our oppressors, but He does His work in His time, not ours.

When Moses heard this statement from the Lord God, he immediately answered that he couldn’t do that.  Who was he to go to Pharaoh and demand the release of the slaves?  He told God he couldn’t do it (vs. 11).  Moses felt inadequate and alone.  Yet God reassured him that He would be with him, and would give him all the strength, wisdom, and power to do what He asked (vs. 12).  Moses didn’t need to worry, as God would be with him every step of the way.

Has God called you to do a work for Him, but you don’t feel adequate?  Perhaps the task seems way too big for us to do, and we don't know what to do.  We are qualified to do God’s work, not because of our own ability, but because God is with us.  We never have to do God’s work in our own strength, and He won’t ask us to do anything that He will not enable us to carry out.  God will equip us to do whatever He asks.

When asked what His Name was, God responded by saying “I AM WHO I AM” (vs. 14).  I AM - a Name describing God’s eternal power and unchangeable character.  We can find stability and security in our unchangeable God.  God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  This Name for God points to His self-existence and eternality.  He is the same God throughout the ages.  He will always be who He has always been.  He will forever be who He is now.  He never changes.  When Jesus spoke in John 8:58, He called Himself by the Name I AM, declaring that He, indeed, is God.

In closing we need to ask ourselves whether we are paying attention to the “burning bushes” God is setting before us?  Are we willing to step up to the task He has for us to do?  Even if it seems daunting to us now, we can be reassured that just as God was with Moses, He will be with us.  It didn’t matter who Moses was, or whether or not he had ability.  It matters who God is.  He is not a little “g” god.  He is the Great I AM!

Sorry, I Never Knew You

Luke 13:22-30 

A young man had bragged to his friends that he knew a famous actor, that they were friends, and that because of that they could go backstage following the show.  However, when they tried to go backstage, the actor said he didn’t know him, and thus they were turned away backstage.  The young man’s brief encounter a few years back when he had seen the actor on the street, called out his name, and the actor had turned to look his way, did not count as knowing the actor, did not constitute friendship with him.  His bragging and his pride got him turned away at the door, with a “Sorry, I don’t know you.”  In our Gospel passage for today we will read of another time, a much more important time, when we will not want to hear those words said to us.

As our Scripture from the Gospel of Luke opens, someone comes to Jesus and asks a question, whether a lot of people will be saved or not.  The Savior’s response is not a simple yes there will be, or no, only a few.  His response intended to make the person, and all who were listening, seriously consider whether they, personally, would be among those who were saved and would enter heaven.  Actually Jesus had given an answer earlier, in the Sermon on the Mount, where He said that the way of true salvation is so narrow that few find it (Matthew 7:13-14).  This contradicts the popular belief today that, except for possibly a few really notorious sinners, everyone is saved and goes to heaven.

There is a popular saying that there are many roads that lead to heaven.  Again, this is something that the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, contradicts as wrong.  As our Scripture here, and in other places state, there is only one way, one road, that will bring anyone to heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ.  People may protest that it is being exclusive, and they don’t want to accept that.  God is not being exclusive of anyone.  He is very inclusive.  Jesus offers salvation to everyone, and would never turn anyone away who puts their faith in Him (Romans 10:9-13).  However, Jesus is the only door to heaven, and the only way to know the Father (John 10:7; John 14:6; Acts 4:12).  It is not that God refuses people, it is rather that people refuse God, or at least God’s way.  People try to enter in another way, other than through the Cross, however there is no other way.

Finding and entering the narrow gate is difficult because of pride, one’s natural love for sin, and the world’s opposition to the Bible’s truth (vs. 24).  We cannot work to get saved.  The only effort that we need to put forth to enter the narrow gate is to earnestly desire to know Jesus, believing that He died on the Cross for our sins.  It is important that we should never put that decision off, for the door will not stay open forever!

On Judgment Day many will protest that they deserve entrance into heaven (vs. 25-27).  However because no relationship ever existed between them and God’s Son, Jesus Christ, no entrance will be given.  They had deluded themselves into thinking they knew the Owner of the house, that they knew the Savior, but there was no true relationship, thus no entrance.

Although many people know something about God, only a few have acknowledged their sins and accepted His forgiveness.  Just listening to Jesus’ words and admiring His miracles is not enough.  We must turn from sin and trust in God to save us.

Some people who are despised now will be greatly honored later when in heaven (vs. 30).  In the same regard, some people who are influential and popular now will be left outside the gate come Judgment Day.  The people great in God’s eyes are often ignored by the world, whereas many that the world honors will be turned away at heaven.  There are some people we thought would be in heaven that won’t be there, and some people we were so sure wouldn’t be in heaven, but yet they are there.

In closing, we read of the cries of people, calling out for the Lord to open the door for them (vs. 25).  This prayer could have been answered at any time before death.  However, after death it is too late.  It cannot be answered then.  They were religious, but lost.  There will be many who make a claim of being Christian, but never truly accepted Jesus as their personal Savior.  The answer will be “Sorry, I never knew you.  Depart from Me forever more.”  What about you?  Are you going to be among the saved?

Who Are Our Examples?

Philippians 3:17-4:1 

Many Christians have a fellow believer that they really look up to as someone whose strong faith and godly life they admire, and would seek to model.  I knew someone whose faith and walk with the Lord was something I wanted to strive to be like.  They have since gone home to be with the Lord, but if I could be half the Christian they were, that would be something.  In our Scripture for today the Apostle Paul instructs the Philippian church to be careful of who they follow the example of.  Let’s look into our passage to see what we can learn.

As our Scripture begins, the Apostle Paul tells the Philippians that they should be careful of who they are following the example of, and gives himself for an example to follow (vs. 17).  Paul didn’t believe that he was perfect.  None of us are.  However, Paul knew that each day he strived and focused to follow Jesus in his own life, and to obey His Word.  Paul was a model for pursuing the goal of Christ-likeness.  Having a godly example to copy is very helpful for us to grow as a believer, and lead a better life.

As Paul continues, he warns the Philippians, though, that not everyone is good to set up as an example to follow (vs. 18-19).  As Paul warns, there are some people who are enemies of the Cross of Jesus Christ.  Some of them were right there in the church congregation in Philippi.  The same is true today, as there are enemies of the Cross of Jesus in many of our churches, too.

Who are these people that Paul is warning that we should be on the lookout to avoid?  They are people who claim to be Christians, but don’t live up to His model, and don’t even make any attempt to.  They seek to satisfy their own desires, as Paul describes in verse 19.  They are dangerous false teachers, who pose as followers of Jesus, but do not truly follow His Word.  Instead they follow their own desires.

How can we recognize these enemies of the cross?  Jesus’ death on the Cross brought salvation to man.  Those who scorn the Cross, making little of Jesus’ Holy Blood.  These say, or act as if there is no need for the death of Jesus on the Cross, that His death was not necessary, and that everyone will be going to heaven.  In their minds the Cross and His precious Blood are unnecessary, and they are thus an enemy of the Cross.  There are also those who continue to trust in their own works or in human wisdom to save them, those who deny the transforming power of the Gospel.  All of the best efforts of those who are trusting in themselves, their efforts and accomplishments, are no better than filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6; Philippians 3:7-8).  The Cross of Jesus exposes us for who we really are - hopeless, helpless sinners in need of a Savior.

There are those who claim to be followers of Jesus, but whose worldly, hedonistic lifestyle corrupts them.  These are also the enemies of the Cross.  They are controlled by their earthly nature, worshiping sensual desires.  Their mind is on earthly things, rather than heavenly.  Paul states that instead of bragging and glorying in what they believe and how they live, their lifestyle should be their shame.  He warns that unless they truly put their faith in the Lord Jesus their end will be destruction.

Paul continues on, stating that our focus should be on heaven, where our true citizenship is, and where Jesus will return from (vs. 20-21).  Our heart and life should not be drawn to things here on earth, but instead in heaven, where our citizenship and home truly is, where God dwells, where Jesus is present, and where our names are registered (Luke 10:20).  When Jesus returns, He has promised to give us a new body, which will be like the one Jesus has following His resurrection (vs. 21).

As Paul concludes our Scripture passage he calls the believers of Philippi his joy and crown (vs. 4:1). Paul didn’t derive his joy and pleasure in circumstances or possessions, but rather in the people he had won to the Lord, and in those he instructed and encouraged in the Lord.  The people that we lead to the Lord will also bring a crown of rejoicing for us.

Paul also urges the true believers and followers of Jesus to stand firm in Him.  The way to stand firm is to keep our eyes on Christ, remembering that this world is not our home, and to focus on the fact that Jesus will bring everything under His control.   We need to depend fully on Jesus to keep us moving forward in order to finish the race well.  He will take us through all of the challenges we face, and lead us home.

Light For Dark Days

Psalm 27 

In the last several years, the world has become a darker and much scarier place to live.  Wars, diseases, street violence in most major cities, desperate financial hardship for many as prices of necessities skyrocket.  When we were little, we might not have thought that grown-ups could be afraid, but now we know how false that thinking is.  Our psalm for this week, Psalm 27, is one of my favorite psalms.  The author, David, was someone who had good reason to be afraid, as he spent several years as a young adult running for his life while King Saul unjustly tried to kill him.  He also fought in the military, both as soldier, and later as king, against the enemies of the Israelites.  Later David’s own son, Absalom, raised an army against him, and tried to depose him as king.  David had good reason to be afraid, but he also knew where to turn when afraid, which is what this psalm is all about.  Let’s learn David’s secret for when fear strikes us, as it likely will at some point in our life.

As our psalm opens up, David reveals where he turns to in those dark days.  It may be figuratively dark right now with so many fearsome things happening in the world and in our own personal lives.  We are afraid.  However David, who knew many dark days, said that he had light and nothing to be afraid of.  The Lord God was his light and his strength, and with Him he had no need for fear (vs. 1).

When enemies, whether literal or figurative ones, come surrounding us, just as if they would eat us up, God can handle them.  With Him as our protector, they will stumble and fall (vs. 2).  We can be confident and fearless, even though an army, again literal or figurative, comes against us (vs. 3).  In times of darkness Jesus will be our light, and illuminate the way (John 8:12; 12:46).  He has promised that He will never leave or forsake those who have called upon Him as Savior.  In the midst of darkness and despair, we can know that God is our light.  Knowing that He is the stronghold of our life can make us feel protected, embraced, and loved.

We can conquer fear by using the light of the Lord, who brings salvation.  There is no darkness at all in God (I John 1:5).  His light will dispel the darkness of fear.  When we’re walking in the power of God’s Spirit we don’t need to fear anything.  Those who desire to live in God’s presence each day will be able to enjoy that relationship forever (vs. 4).  God’s perfect love casts out fear (I John 4:18).  We are secure because God’s perfect love protects us, no matter what our circumstances may be.

However, some may wonder why their circumstances have not changed, even though they have turned to the Lord and brought their urgent needs and fears to the Lord in prayer.  What is wrong?  Doesn’t God care about me?  At the end of our psalm David instructs us that we need to wait on the Lord (vs. 14).  Sometimes we feel that God has let us down because He doesn’t provide an immediate answer to our prayers.  Waiting on God requires faith in Him.  Walking by faith means trusting in God, even without knowing when or how He will resolve the situation.  We must submit to the Lord, knowing there is nothing we can do except rest in Him.

Waiting for the Lord requires patience, and takes courage.  Waiting can transform us into a people of growing faith.  When we become frustrated with God’s apparent delay in answering our prayer, it is good to remember that He is interested in developing faith and perseverance in our character.  Waiting for God is not easy, but He is worth waiting for.  God calls us to hope in and wait for Him because He will use the waiting to refresh, renew, and teach us.

God always comes through for those who wait on Him.  If we hold fast to His hand, knowing that He loves us, we have no reason to fear.  Although circumstances change, God’s promises do not.  Stand on the rock of His promises, and take shelter under His wings until the storm passes.  Our God is the biggest, strongest, and most loving Father in the universe!  We can rest on His round the clock care of every area of our life.  We don’t need to fear any circumstance.  Instead of saying, “God, I have a big problem!” we can say, “Problem, I have a big God!”  Because God is near, I need not fear!

The Faith Of Abraham

Genesis 15:1-6

Abraham is one of the most revered men in history, and Christianity certainly holds this Old Testament figure in great regard.  Why is Abraham so revered?  He didn’t lead a nation out of captivity, such as Moses did.  He didn’t command armies, like Joshua or David.  Nor was he one of the great prophets.  As we look into our Scripture for today, we will see why God’s Word holds Abraham up as a figure honored by God, and to be modeled in our own lives.

When we are first introduced to Abraham in the Bible, (called Abram at this time), he was living in the city of Ur, the great city of the ancient Sumerians, along with his wife, father, and siblings, when they left there to move north and west, to the city of Haran (Genesis 11:26-32).  When he was 75 years old, God called him to take his wife and nephew Lot, and leave Haran, promising to make a great nation from him (Genesis 12:1-5).  What makes God’s promise special is that at his age, Abram and his wife Sarah have no children.  She was about ten years younger than Abram, and having been married now for many years, was obviously barren.  Now, several chapters later in the Bible, where our Scripture today begins, several years have passed, and Abram still has no children.  Right then, the heir to his fortune would be his chief and most trusted servant, Eliezer of Damascus (vs. 2-3).

God, though, has greater plans for Abram than that.  God renews His promise to him, telling him that his servant Eliezer will not be his heir, but that He will give him a child, and that eventually his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky (vs. 4-5).  That would seem to be an impossibility.  Abram at this time was in his mid-eighties, and Sarah in her mid-seventies.  Not too many men at that age have children, and women at that age can’t bear children.  Yet, what was Abram’s response to this renewal of God’s promise to him?  He did not scoff.  He did not doubt in his heart.  Our key verse here says that Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness (vs. 6).

Abram believed God, and because of that belief, he was saved.  Because of that belief, God counted it to him for righteousness, not because of any great works that he did.  It was faith that saved Abram, not works.  Abram’s belief in God is an illustration of faith over and against works.  Abram was justified by faith.  He believed God’s Word and promise.  This is one of the Bible’s great examples of justification by faith.  Abram was saved by grace through faith, not by any works he did, or by who he was.  There is no other way of salvation given anywhere in the Bible.

Although Abram had been demonstrating his faith through his actions, such as leaving his extended family home and livelihood in Haran, and following where God would lead him, not knowing ahead of time where he was going (Hebrews 11:8), it was not his actions that saved him.  It was his belief in the Lord, not his actions, that made Abram right with God.  Outward actions will not, by themselves, make us right with God.  Abram’s saving relationship with God is based on faith.  Right actions will follow naturally as by-products.

What makes Abram’s faith even more special is that he did not have the Bible, nor any Scriptures that he could turn to in order to help boost his faith.  None of the Bible had been written down yet, nor would it be for several hundred more years.  He could not turn to anyone in his extended family, such as a parent or sibling to encourage his faith, either, as they were not believers.  The city where he was born, Ur, was renowned for the worship of the moon god Nanna, of the ancient Sumerians.  Other than his wife, Sarah, and nephew Lot, he was alone in his belief of the one true God, Yahweh.

Yahweh was Abram’s Divine Protector, his Shield, and Great Reward (vs. 1).  Even when he did not see how God could fulfill His promise to him regarding an heir, he trusted the Lord anyway.  He looked beyond what he could see to what God could see.  Abram did not need to be afraid.  God promised to defend him as his Shield, and be his reward or blessing.

When We Face Temptation

 Luke 4:1-13

Have you ever thought that God just doesn’t understand what you are going through?  How could He, you think? He's all-powerful, up there in heaven, and doesn’t understand the trials and problems we go through each day, nor how easy it is to slip up with the temptations we are bombarded with.  As we read today’s Scripture from the Gospel of Luke, we will read that Jesus faced similar trials that we do, and was also relentlessly tempted by the devil.  As we look into and study the temptation of Jesus, we can learn some ways to help us when we are going through our own times of testing.

Most of us would want to be victorious when we face temptation, and not fall victim to the lures and tricks of Satan.  As the Bible records, Jesus was tempted just as we are (Hebrews 4:15).  The difference is that He did not give in to the temptations, and did not sin.  Our Scripture passage gives us some ways that we can imitate the Savior in order to also have victory when we are tempted.

As our Scripture opens, we read that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit when He went into the wilderness for a time of prayer with God, which also ended up being a time of severe temptations (vs. 1).  It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can have any victory over the temptations of Satan.  He is a very wily and evil foe, and we, on our own and in our own power, are no match against him.  We need to remain filled with the Spirit, and in close, obedient fellowship with God through prayer to win over temptation.

When Satan came to Jesus, tempting Him in various ways, Jesus responded, not with His own arguments, but with quoting Scripture verses.  He used the Bible, which is our only weapon of offense in the spiritual armor that God has given us (Ephesians 6:13-18).  The Bible, God’s Word, is the sword that He has given us, and Jesus used it effectively to fight off the temptations of Satan.  We need to keep that weapon always sharpened.

Jesus was alone, fasting, and ready to start His ministry when His temptations came.  Satan likes to tempt us when we are vulnerable, when we’re hungry, sick, tired, or preparing for an important ministry.  When Satan struck, he tried to get Jesus to make selfish choices, instead of submitting to God’s plans.  We should question decisions that place more emphasis on our personal desires, rather than God’s will.

As mentioned, Jesus used the Bible to combat Satan.  The Savior accepted and recognized the divine authority of the Bible, as God’s very Words.  With each attack from the devil, Jesus answered him with Scripture.  It’s not enough to just quote the Bible, though.  We must believe, obey, and live it, as Jesus did.

As Jesus used the Scriptures against Satan, the devil thought he would try the same, and he quoted a verse back at Jesus (vs. 9-11).  However, Satan misused Scripture, and didn’t even quote the verses correctly.  We need to be aware that Scripture verses can be twisted, and the devil will use people to twist them to try and mean anything he wants them to use it for.  The more we study and know the Bible, the easier it will be to see when Satan and his minions try to misuse it.

Satan doesn’t attack us in the same way all the time.  Just as with Jesus, he looks for opportune times, such as when we feel weak, as Jesus did while fasting many days and he tempted him with turning stones into bread (vs. 3).  He appeals to our pride (vs. 5-7).  And he makes us question whether we can trust God and His care for us (vs. 9-11).

When Satan entices us to indulge in the pleasures of the world in a way that disobeys God’s commands, we must remember that he is not doing so because he cares that we are missing out on some “fun” or a “good time”.  Satan hates mankind.  He wants to capture and control us.  Never forget that when you follow Satan you walk right into a trap.  Don’t get lackadaisical about temptation.  It always strikes us at our weakest point and weakest moments.  Just as Jesus did, stay filled with the Holy Spirit, stay in daily prayer, and pick up our sword, the Word of God when Satan brings his temptations.