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The Devil Didn’t Make You Do It!
Christian thoughts on every day parenting.
by Donna Shepherd
All materials copyrighted
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Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around
like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
-- 1 Peter 5:8 niv
As a little girl, I remember watching a cartoon where the main character regularly faced moral dilemmas. While he mulled over his
decision, a tiny white angel appeared on one shoulder, while a cute little caricature of a devil sat on the other.
Then as a teen, I watched a show-starring comedian, Flip Wilson. He played a trouble-making character called Geraldine. Any time 'she'
got caught doing wrong, she'd say, "The devil made me do it!" Before long, that line became a national expression. Any time
Geraldine/Flip or anyone else said that phrase, my mom would shake her head and proclaim, "You know you shouldn't make fun of the devil."
My mother had the right idea. We venture into dangerous territory when we make fun of the devil or credit him with too little power.
Many parents, wanting to focus on the good in the world, eliminate talking about evil for fear of scaring their children. We do them no
favors by glossing over the fact that evil exists. The devil or Satan is our very real enemy. He was present in the Garden of Eden, and
the one who tempted Eve. He is described by Peter as our adversary or the one who stands against us or opposes us. He is deceitful.
Jesus said he was a liar and the father of lies.
At one time, Satan lived in heaven. In Luke 10:18, Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning." Satan took a
third of the angels with him in revolt against God and they will one day face judgment for their rebellion.
In the meantime, though, the Bible says the devil is the prince of the power of the air, and he has power over those who don't obey God.
Satan knows his time is short, and he's filled with fury (Revelation 12:12). Satan uses every device to turn people away from God. We
contend with demonic influence each and every day of our lives here on earth.
As Satan has the choice to rebel against God, we have a choice. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we become equipped with the
power of the Holy Spirit to resist the devil. The apostle Paul stressed in Ephesians 6 we need to put on the armor of God. Be alert,
on guard. Know the truth of God's Word. Never stop praying.
As Christians, we know Jesus Christ defeated the devil when He died on the cross and rose again. The only real power over the devil
comes when we resist him in Jesus' Name. Remember the cartoon with the little red devil? When the main character made the right
decision, the devil disappeared in a puff of smoke. Did you know that this actually has scriptural basis? Although many movies and
television shows have the actors employing various means to get rid of evil, James wrote, "Surrender to God! Resist the devil, and
he will run from you" (James 4:7 cev).
Teach your children to resist the devil. Don't ever let them use any variation of the excuse, "The devil made me do it" which is really
saying, "I couldn’t help it." When Satan tempted Jesus, He countered his attacks by quoting the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16 says,
"Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing
them how to live." The more God's Word is hidden in a child's heart, the more prepared he is to come against Satan and all his
temptations. He'll know how to live a righteous life, pleasing to God. That's what we all want for our children, isn't it?
BUSY Parents Tip
The Psalmist wrote, "Young people can live a clean life by obeying your word. I treasure your word above all else; it keeps me from
sinning against you" (Psalm 119:9, 11 cev). Do you read the Bible to your children every day or say a memory verse? Why not start today?
About The Author:
Donna J. Shepherd is the author of Topsy Turvy Land
and a contributing author to Anytime Prayers for Everyday Moms.
From bird watching to the Beatitudes, her writing touches the heart with wisdom and humor while feeding the mind with
daily portions of God's Word. Read more of her writing at Donna J. Shepherd.
Information provided in this column is for entertainment purposes only.
The information in this column is not meant to be taken as legal, medical, or professional advice.
Read legal disclaimer.
* This column is available for your publication, for a F-E-E.
This column may NOT be reprinted without monetary compensation and written permission from the author.
For reprint rights or comments/questions about this article, please contact the author.
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