Moment With The Master
“R.A.D.”
Categories: Moment With The Master"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
“Recognize, Avoid, and Defend”: this was the motto of my son’s martial arts class. It was a simple three-step strategy for handling confrontation. This sounds like a good way to avoid the temptation of Satan.
First, we must recognize the enemy and his allurements. The above verse plainly tells us Satan is the enemy. He is always looking for someone to devour. There are often warning signs that tell us this situation is dangerous before we fall. Be wise. Be watchful. Know and understand the enemy. He is strong and wants you to fall!
Second, we must avoid. The best way to overcome temptation is to avoid situations that will cause us to stumble. Solomon’s advise for avoiding the temptations of the harlot: Remove your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house, (Proverbs 5:8) Paul advises young Timothy to “flee youthful lusts” (II Timothy 2:22) Solomon’s counsel concerning wine: Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. (Proverbs 23:31-32) There are only two reasons why one would compromise this principle: 1) naïve, or 2) rebellion.
Third, we must defend. There will be times when the bait will still be placed before us. On those occasions we must fight. We must use everything at our disposal, all of the armor God supplies (Ephesians 6:10-18), and persistence in prayer in order to win.
The battle is real. It is a daily struggle. It is our duty to look ahead for danger signs, learn to walk away, call out a Scripture, and pray. God’s promise: Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
George Slover
