Don't Take The Bait

"Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil."

(Ephesians 4:26-27)

Something I've learned the hard way—is that you must not keep a record of wrongs done against you.

And whether or not those 'wrongs' were things that people did to actually hurt you, or they were simply perceived wrongs, doesn't matter.

You have to forgive and you have to let it go. If you don't, it will eat you up inside to the point that it will destroy you.

It will be your downfall.

I believe this sinister ability to cause offense and stir up bitterness between God's people to be one of the most effective schemes that our Enemy, Satan has in dividing us; causing dissension, and turning the footholds we give him into spiritual strongholds, that can lead to our demise.

And so often, we take the bait.

This is what it means to "give place to the devil."

Because of our selfish pride and inordinate self-focus, most of us are so overly-sensitive and easily wounded by things people do and say, that we unknowingly cause cracks in our own spiritual armor, leaving us open and vulnerable to the fiery darts of  the wicked one, who only comes to steal, kill and destroy.

And what I've discovered about myself, is that even perceived wrongs done to others, is a weapon of Satan, formed against us to cause bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts—all designed to tear us apart.

'Divide and conquer' is one of his primary methods of operation.

Satan is the author of confusion, the father of a lie, and the accuser of the brethren. And so often he tries to convince us that someone wronged a friend of ours and then he stirs up trouble by planting seeds of division and accusation in our minds. Then once we've taken the bait, we begin to tell others about these perceived wrongs and a spark of gossip quickly becomes a wildfire of accusation.

The Bible warns us of the destructive dangers of this kind of gossip:

"Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell." (James 3:5-6)

To this very day, perhaps my greatest internal struggle is holding onto my bitterness and unforgiveness towards others, for what I 'perceive' to be the wrongs they have committed against me, or against people that I know.

"I can't believe he did that!"

But the saddest part is that when I refuse to forgive—when I keep a record of perceived wrongs and I harbor bitterness in my heart—I make myself a prisoner of my own hardened heart and unforgiveness.

Jesus said:

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny." (Matthew 5:21-26)

Bitterness and unforgiveness is a self-imposed prison, from which there is no escape, until you choose to forgive and let it go. As Jesus said, "You will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny."

And this is one of the main ways that most people "give place" to Satan on a regular basis, giving him a foothold that he can quickly turn into a spiritual stronghold in your life.

Your Enemy uses this stronghold of bitterness and unforgiveness to destroy marriages, kill friendships, and steal your joy.

Don't give him any footholds in your heart or mind.

Daily, we have to put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to withstand the constant barrage of fiery attacks from the devil.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:10-16)

Our battle is not with people. It's not with our families, our co-workers, our boss, or even those who would choose to be our enemies.

It's a spiritual battle, and the weapons of our warfare are faith, the Word of God, and prayer. These are the weapons we have been given that are effective at demolishing the spiritual strongholds of our Enemy.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

We know what the Word says. We are not ignorant of Satan's schemes. He comes to divide and conquer; to steal, kill and destroy. His most effective traps are stirring up bitterness and unforgiveness by trying to cause God's people to be offended by one another.

—Don't take the bait.

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.