The devil made me do it!

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12.

During the 70’s, well known comic genius Flip Wilson, whose character “Geraldine Jones” made famous the line “The devil made me do it!” Blaming the devil for everything became a national catchphrase.  Funny as the joke is, playing the blame game, even blaming the devil, is refusing to own up to responsibility to choices and actions.  

The “fall of man” is explained in the book of Genesis. The devil is described as “the serpent, craftier than any of the other animals the Lord God had made.” Genesis 3:1. The serpent tempted and deceived them. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. John 10:10: “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44.

The enemy distorts the truth using confusion and messages of doubt. He makes his way seem a better way, a short-cut but he is a liar and a thief. The act of sinning that Adam and Eve did in the garden is about choice: The Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:13. We can blame the devil for our choices but responsibility for the act of sin is on us. “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’" Jude 1:9.

The message of Jude is to “contend for the faith.” Jude 1:3. The Lord has given us everything we need to live victoriously. We have a call to persevere: “But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Jude 1:17-21.

We are to agonize over pursuit of pleasure, looking deep in the heart, and questioning thoughts. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16