Are you telling the devil to try harder?

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

At the beginning of the popular movie "Hitch", the title character says that women often turn down men for dates by giving answers that seem like a rejection but actually have a hidden meaning. The character, Hitch, proposes that what many women are really saying amongst other things is, "try harder stupid". In many ways we as Christians do the same thing. In the Book of Judges we are introduced to the Nazarite (meaning separated or dedicated) Samson who is indeed submitted to God. "For lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no rasor shall come to his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." (Judges 13:5) Where Samson ran into trouble was in relation to the second sentence of James 4:7. You see Samson, who was used mightily by God had a thing for a gold digger by the name of Delilah. (Judges 16:4-5) As a result instead of resisting or walking away from her, he continued to entertain the devils of adultery, lust, fornication and seduction by flirting or playing games. (Judges 16: 6-14) You see Samson thought he had everything under control. But James said it best, "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." (James 1:8) And being unstable, Samson fell and suffered greatly. (Judges 16: 15-21) The enemy is persistent. Satan will wait you out, for he knows that if you flirt with him long enough you will eventually fall. Ask yourself this question: have I resisted the devil or am telling him to try harder stupid? Perhaps you haven't done anything physical, but are you sending mixed messages? Flirting is not harmless. The more time you spend with someone the more you tend to let your guard down. If you have fallen, do not despair. There is still hope. "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Romans 5:5 Just as God redeemed Samson, God can redeem you. (Judges 16:22-30) Take comfort in Jesus' words to Peter, "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22: 31-32