Empty Temptations

[nam-eno]

070701

For what reason do we leave the fullness of the Holy Spirit, the peace brought to us by the Son of God, the grace of God's mercy? For what reason do we allow the emptiness of sin to enter our lives? The momentary appeasement of sinful desire cannot compare to the eternal life of the Holy Spirit. How is it then, we are willing to endanger our souls for the empty temptations Satan places in front of us?

How weak we are, even when we know that our actions in thought and word, in what we have done and what we have failed to do, are displeasing to our Lord. The mere thought that we may disappoint our Lord and Savior should keep us sinless, and yet, we are not. And so, He died on the cross for our sins. He suffered so that we may be forgiven.

As we pass through the journey of life, we are presented many choices. We know right from wrong, yet, so many choices we make fail to follow the word and path of the Lord; choices which lead only to emptiness and eternal darkness.

Look into the eyes of the addict. In some cases we can clearly see how their life has suffered; in others, the suffering is hidden, but the emptiness is there none the less. The addiction leads to destruction, its source a snare of Satan.

Addiction may take many forms. We think often in the terms of drugs, but it could also be in the form of money, fame, or illicit pleasure. One needs money for sustenance and to care for one's family, but if the effort for money excludes the relationship with one's loved ones, if it is presented in place of that relationship, then it becomes an addiction; Satan's snare.

Ambition helps us to achieve and to accomplish. Ambition causes us to make choices that may enable us to help others; but if it leads us to selfishness, it becomes a snare of Satan.

Our addictions may take many forms; we may not even realize what they are. In many cases, the positive things we think we do become addictions when we allow our actions to exclude those we love. Be careful of the snares of Satan in that they are not always apparent to us.

Jesus told us the two greatest commandments were to love God and to love one another. All of God's law extends from these. It is what we should use to guide our choices. If what we do harms others, then, it is a snare of Satan. We must be careful in our examination, though, because the harm may not be obvious or what may appear to be harmful is in truth, the opposite.

Dear Lord, help me to understand what is pleasing to You. Guide me to the fullness of the Holy Spirit, the peace of Your Love, the grace of Your mercy and forgiveness. Lead me to a life for the benefit of others and the fulfillment of Your word. Grant me the wisdom and strength to live within your commandments.

Amen.

Nam Eno