“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
We’ve all experienced the “setup”. The temptation on the Path of Life; the thought, our temper, the things to look at, a feelings we have, a bad memory from the past. The devil will use these things to tempt us to take the exit off The Path and go his way. Don’t go there! I had a vision once of a man who took a “shortcut” but accidentally fell into a construction hole on a street. It was hard getting out of that hole but he repeatedly took that shortcut. Don’t go that way! It’s a setup! “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Matthew 26:41).
The temptations of the enemy will look good. “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye,” (Genesis 3:6). We know how that turned out. It was a setup!
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” (Matthew 6:22). Remember the kid’s song, “Oh be careful little eyes what you see.” We’ve heard the phrase, “It caught my eye.” Well, for something to “catch” your eye, you first have to cast your eye upon it. Don’t look, it’s a setup!
2 Corinthians 10:5 says to, “take every thought captive to obey Christ,” I remember a time when I needed to get a gift for my wife. I went to K-Mart during my lunch hour and stood at the jewelry counter while the employee waited on a customer on the other side. The older gentleman was taking his time, asking questions, looking at different pieces of jewelry while I stood there waiting. I got so aggravated, I thought, “Hurry up old man, make a choice. I’ve got to get back to work!” Then I realized…this was a setup. I thought, “Not today! I’m not going there devil. So shut up in the name of Jesus!” I calmed down, waited my turn and made my purchase. Thank you Lord. God, give us the discernment to see the setup and resist. Jesus knew it was a “setup” in Matthew 4 and resisted by the Word of God. Be like Jesus!