A Very Clever Strategy

Beads of Joy 04-15-10

A Very Clever Strategy
©2010 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Hello Everyone,

Many may think that they are smarter, quicker, and even more intelligent than satan. And yet all of us still sin regardless of how smart we may think we are, why is that? One thing many don't understand about satan is this; the enemy always knows when we are weakest. A most clever strategy to attack and to offer temptations; when we are the weakest and most vulnerable to give in. He is as destructive and as horrible as he is because he does plan and plot to destroy us everyday; plus he hates and despises God and Jesus. So our faith only angers him more. Remember this, satan never sleeps, and he only seeks to draw us away fom God, even just instilling doubt into our hearts is enough to keep us from God. It is said that satan intently sits and stares down at our armor waiting; patiently waiting for that slight open space, waiting for that opportunity to jab us with his claws. Satan will appear in ways that will deceive us even more unless we stay alert, "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:14, we must stay alert.

Let us keep in mind that dealing with temptation is critically connected to how we deal with sin. I see it this way, if we are not so attentive and aware of the subtleties of temptation; then we will be that way with the sin that will follow. Everything about satan is evil; he does not follow any rules, and he has no concerns for our well being. His only concern is to deceive, mislead and to destroy us; and to do whatever it'll take to keep us from Jesus. God sent His only Son with a purpose, "He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." 1 John 3:8. We must know the enemy, we must know how he gets things done to destroy us, we must be prepared at all times. I believe our first line of defense is awareness. We must know when he places those subtle harmless looks, thoughts, ideas, or anything that will destroy us in front of us. Not one person in this world is shielded from the taunting satan will do to everyone of us. Remember even Jesus was tempted three times by satan in the hopes to mislead and destroy God's Son. Stay alert, that's the best advise in the world we live in.

Selfishness and pride and instant gratification are extremely useful tools, that the devil uses against us often. He will be relentless and he will persist. Satan more than anybody knows the power that is in the cross. He knows he must keep us from embracing the pain and suffering we will endure along the way. He wants us to collapse inside, he wants us to seek comfort and pleasure. Sometimes it only takes, one look, one word, one glance and BAM we are hooked; and we are about to be reeled into the clutches of satan to be devoured by him. We must stay alert at all times, never putting our guard down. The slightest flinch of our weakness appearing is all it'll take for satan and he'll send out his sword of deception and trap and destroy us. But there is joy in all this, for God's word says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2-3

Don't be scared of temptation, it'll happen daily in all our lives regardless, instead be alert and ready at every turn for it to come full force at you. We can easily be blinded by our own selfish desires thinking they are harmless; that is all part of the deceit. Satan knows once you're hooked and you've convinced yourself that it's not all that bad; then he's got you. And an important side note is, please don't try to be so brazen that you want to walk on the edge of the cliff thinking, "Oh how clever I am, I can easily defeat satan in his evil ways." You are a fool if you believe you will not fall off the cliff and straight into the arms of your sin, the temptation and the subtleties of that temptation, the look, the word, the glance. But there is hope, in what we are tempted by, we should and could handle it by God's grace, "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:12-13. Resist and flee, RUN, and do not look back.

The message today is clear: Be Alert


Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO