Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. --James 4:7
Iron Eyes Cody, a Native American actor, once repeated an old Indian legend to Guideposts magazine.
One time, as a youth was traveling alone to prepare for manhood, he noticed a mountain peak capped with snow. So he set off to climb it. And when he reached the top, he could see for miles.
At the top of the mountain, the youth looked down to find a rattlesnake at his feet. The snake said, "I'm about to die. It's too cold up here for me. There's no food and I'm starving. Take me down to the valley."
The youth replied, "No…I know your kind. If I pick you up, you will bite and kill me."
But the snake promised, "I will treat you differently. If you do this for me, I won't harm you."
The youth resisted at first, but finally picked up the persuasive snake and carried it down to the valley below. There he gently laid it on the grass when suddenly the snake coiled and leapt, biting him on the leg and crippling the boy.
As the snake slithered away, he said, "You knew what I was when you picked me up."
Just as magnets are attracted to one another, so the Christian is drawn to sin through temptation. If you know the things that cause you to surrender to temptation and follow through with sin, then avoid and eliminate them in your life. When tempted, lean on Christ for strength to resist.
Paul said, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). To avoid being harmed by Satan's venomous bite, recognize His ways so you can be prepared to confront and resist the temptation with which he persuades you.
PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to strengthen you, so that you will have the power of the Holy Spirit to resist the attacks of temptation from Satan.
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