Keep Your Distance by Greg Laurie

“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.” James 1:14

We live in a time when no one wants to accept responsibility for their actions. We’re a nation of victims. We all have diseases.

No one uses the phrase “I have sinned” anymore. Now we say, “I am sick.” We blame it on this. We blame it on that.

Yet the Bible says, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death” (James 1:14–15).

For a believer to pray against temptation and then rush into a place of vulnerability is like putting his hands into a fire and then praying they won’t be burned.

We bring the repercussions on ourselves.

People sometimes walk into temptation thinking, “This is no problem. I can handle it. I’m strong.”

That is what Samson used to think. Time after time the Philistines tried to kill him, but he always came out ahead. He would shake them off like rag dolls. No one could stop him.

The devil sized him up, and instead of trying to bring him down on the battlefield, he focused on bringing him down in the bedroom.

Samson discovered what happens when you play around with sin: sin plays around with you.

His life ultimately ended as a result.

We need to realize the devil is a powerful foe. The Bible tells us that he “prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).

You may think he’s harmless, but he is powerful. He is not more powerful than God, of course. Nor is he even close to being God’s equal. Nevertheless, he is a powerful spirit being, and we want to keep as much distance from him as possible.

When you play around with sin, sin plays around with you.

Pastor Greg’s daily devotions.