Don’t Take the Bait!
Don’t Take the Bait!
If you are familiar with the book, The Bait of Satan, by John Bevere, then you are aware that God’s enemy uses those moments when we take things personally that may not have been intended as such to become the means for him to separate us from God.
Let’s consider when we become offended by someone taking a position on an issue that’s opposite to ours, or when we misconstrue their opinion as insensitive to our needs or desires. We have taken the bait and have given God’s enemy access to our minds, hearts, and emotions. And that cannot be a good thing!
But how are we supposed to handle insults, affronts, or even, sadly, conversations where the other person provokes us? James 1:19b-20 says, “But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” Well, that may be easy for James to say, but how do we stay in the Lord’s grace when we are provoked to offense and anger?
First, this does not mean being a doormat and letting people walk all over us. If we are being verbally abused, we do have a right to stand up for ourselves, to be sure. However, secondly, we need to be led by the Holy Spirit in our response, so we do not ‘take the bait’ and fall from grace. If we follow James’ advice to be quick to listen and slow to speak, we can give ourselves permission to breathe and take a pause before responding.
Can you imagine how much more peaceful our lives would be if we really tried to apply this principle? Many of us think of ourselves as sensitive or easily hurt. Have we ever asked God how He feels about our perception of things? I have, and I strongly sensed Him directing me to not take things so personally, to not ascribe more meaning to a comment than was intended, and lastly, to have a ‘thick skin and a tender heart.’ Sounds a bit like Jesus, wouldn’t you say?
Let Us Walk in His Way.
Dear Heavenly Father, we all experience feelings of hurt in our everyday lives. Can You help us try to be more objective when provoked so that we do not take ‘the bait of Satan’ by taking offense, ending relationships unnecessarily, and overreacting to comments that may be more neutral than we perceive? This is a hard lesson for us, Lord, and one that I still desire to apply daily, even though on this side of Heaven, we will have times when we fail. Help us choose to remain in Your grace, that we may be peacemakers for Your kingdom and Your glory. Amen.
by Corinne “Kinney” deHamel
author of “Walk in His Way” for
Carry the Light Ministries
