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A few decades ago, Flip Wilson was a comedian with a popular television show. Part of his act was to dress up like a woman named Geraldine. Geraldine repeated a line that became a catch phrase at the time. It was, “The devil made me do it.” That was Geraldine’s excuse. If she bought an expensive dress, the devil made her buy it. Wilson got a lot of laughs talking about the temptations Geraldine and other characters fell into by using the line “the devil made me do it.”
But we know the devil doesn’t make us do anything. And we know temptation doesn’t come from God. James 1:13-15 makes it clear where temptation starts. It says, “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (NIV)
That’s right! Each of us have desires that are the source of our temptation. The more we entertain those thoughts, the harder it is to resist. We may laugh about temptation in a comedy skit, but it is no laughing matter. Stay faithful to God when facing trials and temptation! When you have stood the test, God will give you the crown of life!
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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.