Suppose
you’re a fish and see a juicy floating worm. Just before you can eat it another
fish quickly swims and takes the bait. You’re stunned because the fish
immediately shoots straight up out of the water and doesn’t come back!
A
few minutes later, you spot another worm. Again, another fish grabs it before
you can get there. Up it goes and never returns. This happens three more times.
Since you’re a talking fish, you warn the others, “I’ve figured out something
bad happens whenever I see a floating worm. I don’t understand why but every time
a fish bites a worm it’s immediately jerked out of the water.”
Some
fish ridicule you. “You’re not going to tell us what to do. If we see a worm we'll eat it!” Later you don’t
notice them around anymore. You only see the other fish who listened to your
advice. (If only people would listen)
James
1:14 says, “But each person is tempted when (WHEN?) they
are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.” The Greek word for “enticed” means “to bait a hook.” The
fisherman uses bait to attract the
fish and hides a hook inside to conceal
the consequences. It takes two things to catch it—a hungry fish and enticing bait.
Your
mind is the pond
where Satan goes fishing. Instead of dropping a worm into your mind he drops in
a lying thought, “You can have this and nothing bad will happen to you.” You
can’t see the hook, but if you’re wise you’ll swim away. Bait always includes consequences.
The fish that took the bait never dreamed it
would end up in a frying pan. The alcoholic never thought he would end up in
the street gutter when he took his first drink. The adulterer never dreamed he’d
lose his family for yielding for one fleeting moment.
What's the bait that's tempting you?
Remember a hook is always hidden inside. Avoid the bait and you won’t suffer
the consequences. www.makinglifecount.net
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BIBLE STUDY: “Overcoming
Temptation”
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