Moment by Moment...

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

The writer of the song, "Devil with a blue dress on" must have read this verse by the Apostle Peter at least once in his life. I'm sure many fallen men down through the years can attest to just how right-on he was.

The popular cartoon rendering of the Devil is a funny looking guy with horns, a red suit and a pitchfork. But Peter says he walks about like a lion seeking whom he may devour. He prowls about, unseen, crouching low in the grass, the element of surprise one of his greatest weapons in attacking unwary, unsuspecting prey. 

Elsewhere in the Bible it says Satan can disguise, or "transform himself as an angel of light." (See 2 Corinthians 11:14)

"Devil with a blue dress on."

How many unwary men have fallen prey to a beautiful woman and her alluring charms?

An "angel of light."

How many unsuspecting women have been taken captive by a handsome, smooth-talking man, who was only interested in using her for her body.

Devoured by the roaring lion in charming disguise.

I read somewhere this week that "each day is a choice."  What you put in your body. What you say, do and think. Who you associate with. Who you choose to give yourself to...

But the reality is, every moment is a choice.

How you respond to this temptation or that. How you choose to react when someone treats you unfairly. What you look at on the Internet. Where you stop for lunch. Who you have a drink with after work...

As I've quoted so many times before, Jesus said of the Devil:

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." (John 10:10)

Satan only comes to steal your heart away. He comes to kill your peace and joy. He comes to destroy your marriage and your family.

And he does this using every cunning scheme and trick that he has carefully crafted and devised over the last several thousand years. He knows every Achilles Heel you have. He knows your weaknesses and blind spots. He has intimate knowledge of exactly who or what your flesh craves most. He knows what time of the day you are most vulnerable—what time he will be most successful attacking you. 

He knows exactly when to dangle the right carrot in front of you.

But the admonition and hope for all followers of Christ is:

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Humbly submit to God in each and every moment of trial and temptation, casting all of your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.

Jesus Christ—God in the flesh—felt every one of our weaknesses and infirmities. He knows how difficult it is for us living in these fleshly bodies. He knows us better than we know ourselves. The Devil tried to tempt Him in every way he tries to tempt us. 

So cast every weakness, temptation and care upon Jesus; for only He can carry these heavy burdens which we were not meant to carry. Jesus said:

"For without Me, you can do nothing."

None of our temptations are unique. 

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Only through drawing near to Jesus—abiding in Him—can we bear the constant barrage of temptations Satan sends our way. Fiery, demonic arrows of temptation and persecution, launched by the devil to destroy God's people.

Jesus is The Way of escape.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.