RESIST THE DEVIL

In the days of the Civil War it was illegal to trade in cotton; but many unscrupulous speculators tried to buy cotton in the South, run it through the Union lines & sell it at great profit in the North.

One of these speculators approached a Mississippi steamboat captain & offered him $100 if he would run his cotton up the river for him. The captain declined, reminding him that it was illegal.

"I will give you $500," said the man.

"No," answered the captain.

"I will give you $1000."

"No," the captain said again.

"I will give you $3000."

At that the captain drew his pistol & pointing it at the man said, "Get off this boat. You are coming too near my price."

That is the way to deal with temptation. That is the way Christ dealt with it. There was no parley, no delay; He said, "Get thee behind me, Satan" (Matt. 16:23).

- (moreillustrations.com)

Js 4:7 (KJV):  “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

“Too often we think of being tempted as being enticed to do big things like stealing, murdering or committing adultery. But most often we're tempted to be impatient, stingy, jealous, greedy or any number of other things that we consider lesser sins.” - Joyce Meyer.