It's TRUE!

Give all your worries to Him, because He cares about you. Control yourselves and be careful! The devil, your enemy, goes around like a roaring lion look on someone to feast. Refuse to give in to him, by being strong in your faith. Remember, you are not along in your struggles. 

1 Peter 5:7-9

I remember going to the zoo on a class trip in 5th grade.  We saw the bears, who had learned to wave at us when we waved.  We saw the monkeys, who would extremely loud. We stared at the snakes, lizards and various other slithery scaly critters.  We saw the seals, fish, otters and lots of other water dwellers as well.

But I was fascinated by the lions!  They look fluffy and easy to get along with (to my 9 year old mind).  For centuries, lions had be a symbol of ferocious bravery.  They we used in the Roman Coliseum as part of "The Games."  And I thought they were amazing!  Until our guide, who was from India, told us that lions were truly fierce, extremely dangerous.  The lion roars to scare and startle their prey into making a mistake!  Think about that!  When we are tempted...it's usually a split second decision we make that becomes our misstep into sin.  The devil roars, or whispers, or nudges, and we knee-jerk into the slide.

Years later, I heard a speaker at our college Chapel Service say: "We are tempted, but we are NOT compelled!"  He then went on to share James 4:7 - "So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."  

• We give into temptation when we think we are the ONLY ones enduring hardship and lash out at God.  
• We give into temptation when we have the means to help someone and we choose to be selfish.  
• We give into temptation when we become proud and arrogant thinking we are somehow better than others.  
• We give into temptation when we refuse to forgive (or ask forgiveness). 

We are tempted.......but we are NOT compelled!  Our enemy can NOT force us to sin against God! He can tempt us, but he can NOT force us.

Read this last passage and ponder it, I beg of you:

"The temptations in your life are no different form what others experience. And God is faithful. He will NOT allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure." - 1 Corinthians 10:13