The Devil Made Me Do It

Steven’s Scribbles
“The Devil Made Me Do It”
Gen. 3:1-7


    Growing up, my Father and I consistently played light-hearted pranks on one another. Sometimes something simple like jumping out from around the corner to scare one another or tossing a can of cold freon to one another was enough to constitute a prank. Often I remember him chuckling, “I’m sorry son, the devil made me do it.” Even though I know he was joking, I’ve heard that expression more and more throughout my life. The devil is a murderer, liar, and schemer: “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44). “…that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” (2 Cor. 2:11). Even though he is all of these things, he does not have the ability to overtake your free will and make you do things. When reading the first two chapters of Job, we see that satan has restrictions. The Lord does not allow him to do whatever he wishes to Job, but stops him from harming him or taking his life. In the garden, the serpent of old, the devil, did not make Eve eat the forbidden fruit. Rather, he lied to her to make her think there would be no consequences for her sin, the same lie that he tells today. Whether it is a harmless prank, or the sin you struggle with, the devil did not make you do it. There is a choice that must be made. There has always been a choice that must be made. “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” I love you all!
    
In His service,
Steven Hugley