Don’t Scratch That Itch!

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

In most areas of the world, mosquitoes are present for at least a short while of the year, and here in Minnesota it is no different. While they aren’t actually too bad for most of the summer, when they first come out in the spring they are almost unbearable, especially in the lowlands and around small ponds. I have been walking outside in the evening and found myself completely surround by literally thousands of mosquitoes as they try to get a taste. This may seem like an over exaggeration, but until you see it yourself you just need to picture a cartoon picture of a swarm of bees and you aren’t too far off.

The main reason that mosquitoes are despised so much is due to the main fact that when they bite you the ensuing result is that you begin to develop an itch in the area of the bite. It is really quite an annoyance. What happens is that when the mosquito bites you, it injects some of it’s saliva into your skin, and the itching sensation happens because your body reacts to the saliva and it causes the bump and itching to start. However, there is a key to making that itching go away, and it is simply not scratching. It may seem hard to do because your skin is so itchy, but you need to resist that urge to scratch if you want it to stop and go away.

To resist something means to oppose, withstand, or to attempt to counter the actions or attempts of. Antonym of resist being obey or submit.

But do you want to know what you really need to resist? The devil, and his deceiving ways. Like those pesky mosquitoes, the devil is out there trying to get to you and inject the teachings and cares of the world “into your skin” in an attempt to get you to sin against God.

The devil may come in any form: from the shape of a complete stranger to a trusted relative, to even appearing as an angel of God. But just as the Bible teaches, you can tell someone by their fruits, and by their fruits you will know them. When we encounter a situation where we can feel our faith being tempted, we need to remain vigilant and resist the works of the devil

1 Peter 5:8-9  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

Temptation and sin are just like those little mosquito bites. They are annoying and unpleasant, and make you want to scratch them, but you need to not allow yourself to do it. As always, our Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate example who we may all mirror ourselves after, as He showed us how to resist the devil in Matthew 4.

Matthew 4:1-11  “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”

Jesus resisted the devil and looked what happened. He left! After the devil failed repeatedly to get the Lord to sin, he gave up! 

It may seem like an insurmountable task at times, but through Christ we can become overcomers of sin and temptation. We can resist the devil. We can keep ourselves from sin, just like the Lord did, because through Him we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).  With God, nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26). With His help, we can keep ourselves from scratching that itch.

In Christ,

Andrew

(Andrew is no longer a part of this ministry, as he purposely lied, deceived me, and then betrayed me. These actions were done willfully and with intent. Although many of these writings are helpful, he completely abandoned this calling, and joined up with the world instead. Nothing can dictate Our lives more than a love for Christ Jesus and being chosen to His service, but he chose to love the world instead.)