THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
There's an old story told about Ruth Graham and one of her daughters.
Billy was away on an evangelism mission, and Ruth had a women's conference at their local church. She had employed a lady to "sit" with the kids.
When Ruth returned home for lunch (and to check on the kids), the sitter told her that one of the girls had "sassed" her.
Ruth promptly took off one of her shoes and ran up the stairs. The little girl saw her coming and said loudly, "Momma, the devil made me do it."
To which Ruth replied, "I know! And I'm gonna beat that devil right out of you!"
Ruth returned to the conference at the church. When she came home that evening, the sitter gave her the same story!
Again, Ruth took off one of her shoes and began to run up the stairs. This time, the little girl yelled, "Momma, the devil made me do it; but when he saw you coming, he ran!"
Well, I assume you can guess at Ruth's response to that!
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________SCRIPTURE____________________________________________________
Ps 91:13-16
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
KJV
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_______THOUGHT_______________________________________________________
In 1Peter5:8, Satan is referred to as a "roaring lion." And in several passages of Scripture he is referred to as a serpent, or adder.
My friends, Christians are not under the power of the devil!
Jesus has already broken the head of the serpent and stilled the roaring lion!
Jesus has beaten him and is holding him down.
This means two things to the Christian.
First, we have no one to blame for our sins but ourselves.
We cannot say, "the devil made me do it"!!
Second, Satan has no power to deceive the Christian.
Whevever there is temptation to do evil, God will make a way of escape for His people (1Corinthians 10:13).
This is AWESOME! And it presents an awesome responsibility to live in holiness!
We must be very careful to realize, however, that these promises are only to those who "submit themselves" to God (James 4:7).
And going back to the first of this chapter, that means to "dwell" in the "secret place" of the Lord.
There's an old song that is written about this truth.
"When we walk with the Lord, in the Light of His Word, What a GLORY He sheds on our way.
"While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will TRUST AND OBEY!"
"Trust and Obey, for there's no other way, To be happy in Jesus, but to TRUST AND OBEY!"
Love ya,
Bruce