January 7 ~

... I am fearful lest that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted and seduced from wholehearted and sincere and pure devotion to Christ ... that ages-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity ...
2Cor.11:3 (Amp); Rev.12:9 (Amp)

There's nothing (whispers soft the imp) so nice,
so tenderly delicious, tinged with spice,
so satisfying as a taste of ... vice!
O, just a touch - no more! Dost that entice
thee? Dost thou dare? 'Twould be done in a trice
and who would ever know? Take my advice
and ... take the plunge! And if there be a price,
well, pay it later. There! That should suffice ...

Suffice? - thou cunning fiend! (the soul replies
- the soul that is, by grace, a measure wise!).
No words hast spoken thou that are not lies!
Thine aim is, one by one, to sever ties
that draw men heavenward. Praise God, thy tries
but goad me more to lift to Him mine eyes!

"I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" ... "the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down ... And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death" ... "they did not hold their lives too dear to lay them down" ... I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me ... through the strength of the one who lives within me ... he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still ... Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus ...
Lk.10:18 (RSV); Rev.12:10,11 (RSV); 12:11 (NEB); Phil.4:13 (KJV,JBP); Rev.22:11,20 (KJV).

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