Today’s post is provided by Wes from wesdraws.com. Wes has a great blog and was nice enough to do a guest post for me this week. What separates his blog from others is the cartoons that he creates to go along with his thought provoking posts. Make sure you help him feel welcome and leave a comment. Oh and he is also the creator of the “Mind Dump” graphic at robshep.com. Love it!
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We often hear Christians talk about how Satan has attacked them in a weak moment causing them to commit an unthinkable sin (and, sometimes, not-so-unthinkable-sins). I believe 100% in the devil. I think he’s very real and I think he wants nothing more than to see humanity destroyed and in torment. I also believe that there is spiritual warfare all around us, and that Satan is doing his best to cut us down. But sometimes I think we give that guy too much credit. I can’t help but think sometimes that claiming ” the devil caused me to sin” is a bit of a cop-out. And that leads me to what I want to ask you guys today:
Do you ever feel like blaming the devil for a sin(s) is a cop-out? Do you think there are things we can do to keep the devil at bay? In the end, doesn’t it come back to us?
Good post. Blaming the devil is a cop-out.
Yes, I do feel that blaming the devil for sins is a cop-out. The devil might tempt us, but it is our decision whether or not to actually sin. We can continue to pray and ask God to guide our decisions. In the end, it always comes back to us if we decided to make that choice. Excellent post!
I am not sure how the devil works. I do know that sometimes temptations feel like they are impossible to resist. I also know that a lot of times the Devil doesn't need my help to mess things up. Good post. Thanks!
totally agree with csomerset. in fact, i have nothing more to add. DITTO!!
I have never been one to blame the devil when I sin. Kind of like blaming the gun when I kill someone (not that I kill all that much any more). Maybe this analogy is not fully apt. However, perhaps it is not so crazy to at least ask the question. Sometimes when I am having a wonderful and blessed day, full of the Spirit and good energy, when the most hateful, nasty, sinful thought will pop into my mind out of nowhere urging me to sin. Sure that could come from some deep recess in my own screwed-up mind, fully of my own doing, but isn't it also possible that Satan is trying to throw me off the path of righteousness?
I agree with you totally, Daniel. But when it comes right down to it, aren't we – as Christians – supposed to recognize that temptation and flee from it? This is the kinda junk that keeps me up at night. 🙂
It comes back to His divine love for us! We aren't God's puppets, He doesn't pull a string and we do exactly what He wanted us to do. He leads us AS we follow. Same with the Devil, he wants us to follow him too. He has no power to "make" us do something but he sure as heck will do his best to get us to follow him for as long as possible, for a few seconds or for a lifetime. Except for the soft batch cookies, they are a power all on their own.
In The Word, James tells us to resist The Devil. He also tells us to "…draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
I believe in the Devil. I'm not entirely convinced he is a liar. He twists the truth to suit his purpose – which is our downfall before The Father. All throughout the Word, the Father desires to perfect us through trial and testing.
Paul even tells us that the Father will not test or try us past what we can bear, and he will even give us an out!
…long way around the park, but no, I don't think we can claim "the Devil made me do it", and I've claimed that every time. I made the choice. I need to own up to it and accept responsibility. The Devil didn't hurt the ones I love, I did. I make the choice because I want something bad enough to listen when the Devil says, "It's okay, go ahead, take what you want. Don't wait for God to give it to you."
Great thoughts. Thanks for the comment.
James, great point. I love soft batch cookies. Thanks for the comment.
Daniel, I agree. I don't think that the Devil makes us do it, but his temptation plays a part. The Bible says resist the devil and he will flee. I just have a hard time resisting some temptations.
I totally hear what you're saying. Frankly, I think in the Western world, the devil doesn't have nearly as much to do as he may in other places. We give him far more credit than he deserves. It's kind of sad.
Bman, thanks for the comment. I agree.
I agree blaming the devil can be a cop-out. I think our classic struggle with the devil is when we are on the right path trying to do something good and things start blocking us or falling apart from several directions. That's when I think the devil is trying to side track and discourage. That's when prayer becomes warfare, and we need to exercise our authority in Christ rather than wimping out.
Mim, thanks for the comment.