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se·duce (s
-d
s
, -dys)tr.v. se·duced, se·duc·ing, se·duc·es
1. To lead away from duty, accepted principles, or proper conduct. See Synonyms at lure.
2. To induce to engage in sex.
3.
a. To entice or beguile into a desired state or position.
b. To win over; attract.
Recently, my wise husband and I were discussing a situation in which we are very closely involved and affected by. I was expressing my disbelief that the person involved couldn't see what was happening. Surely, their discernment had just gone out the window. Where were the foundations that had been given? It was as plain as the nose on my face, along with others, that the person was making a wrong decision.
As I continued to express very animatedly how I felt over the choices, my husband in his grey-haired wisdom, summed it up in very few words. Now aren't men just like that...a few words?
"That is why they call it seduction. The person doesn't see the seduction, so they are seduced."
Wow!...they are blinded by what is right in front of them. Their judgement has been altered.
How often am I seduced? Not the picture we as women might envision of a partially dressed female coming onto an innocent man, but the subtle seduction that can come in many forms.
The enemy will not try to seduce me with an affair or getting drunk, but he is more likely to try to seduce me with the idea of security. Can I be seduced in my spiritual walk to feel I have arrived at the right theology or form of worship? Can I be seduced to bite from the American Dream of success? I am sure the list could fill a page.
Satan seduced Eve, then Eve seduced Adam in the garden, to take the forbidden fruit. Since then, we have all had to put up our guard against seduction. Our prayer for this person and for ourselves is that we will have our blinders taken off to reveal the seduction that is presenting itself right before our eyes. If a woman and a man who walked daily with God, experiencing intimacy beyond our experience can fall....so can I. Then Jesus came to be my advocate.
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Hebrews 2:18
New Living Translation (NLT)
18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.
25 Joining in with more words:
i think we are seduced more than we know...maybe not in the "big" ways and things we think when we hear that word, but anytime we believe something will fill the space that only God can fill. we we believe God is holding out on us, and not giving us what we think we need.
i know i settle for the "cookie" when God is offering the whole buffet.
i think someone way smarter than me said something like that... lol
thanks for the reminder that we all have blinders in some area.
xxoo
This is good "sage". We often think of seduction only in an intimate way, but Satan knows our every weakness in all areas.
I've also found "Let him who thinketh he stand, take heed lest he fall".
It seems the things that I think I'm immune against end up being where I fail. Probably because I don't have a guard up against them.
Have a great Monday, Janette!
The only one wiser than you Janette is that husband the Lord gave you! ;)
I'm convinced that we are seduced daily... daily! How pathetic is that. It's not always in big life rocking ways, but the little seductions left unchecked can lead to loss of wisdom and discernment.
Praise Him for our advocate! God knew before we were created that we couldn't make it on our own. We NEED Him.
Blessings, Debbie
What wise words to begin this Monday morning. You are both so right... if it happened to Adam and Eve, it can happen to us too, in so many different ways.
I've thought about this very thing many times... it's a good reminder to stay on our toes spiritually and to 'take heed lest we fall'.
Good words from Mr.gray hair and his sweet wife!
xo
So true, I think seduction comes when we first begin to think about it in our mind, all begins with a thought. I always tell my kids, a person doesn't get up in the morning and decide to sin. It starts each tiny step. Satan knows just where to get us, my place He gets me is is when people infer I am not intelligent. Or make fun of the education my children have received,
Satan knows just where to hit me for me to hear, " Did God not say?"
Very thought provoking. I wished I lived closer, I would love to talk and talk about this issue with you.
Well this is just like you. Getting me thinking and repenting first thing in the morning! lol
As always, very wise and insightful.
Wow...what a timely post. Seduction is individualized for all of us and Satan knows exactly which form to play. It is so hard to watch someone we love falling prey to his schemes. Sometimes all we can do is pray and wait to be there when they fall. Patty
Janette,
Why is it so easy to see the problems (and solutions) in somebody else's life and so difficult to see them in our own? LOL! I was having the exact same conversation with my SIL. I guess we just have to pray that people "come to themselves".
I think I just might quote you and your husband, when the situation comes up.
Blinded, "we" don't see the seduction.
Thank for expressing and sharing with us.
And of course you are so right. The very nature of seduction makes the wrong choice too desirable to refuse. And yes, we succumb everyday in one way or the other. Thank goodness we can lean on God's strength not ours. Great post.
"If a woman and a man who walked daily with God, experiencing intimacy beyond our experience can fall....so can I."
Boy, doesn't THAT drive the point home? You would think that the older I get and the closer the walk, I would feel less vulnerable. I don't. I see myself as a walking Eve opportunity at every minute.
I was really convicted by the types of security seduction you mentioned. Ouch.
Now that opened up a whole nuther can of worms. What a lot to ponder!
He was the most subtle of all of the creatures in the garden.
Such a powerful post today and so relevant. Sometime even just being so busy, doing the right things can seduce us away from Jesus feet. Thanks for the reminder dear friend.
Hugs, Noreen
We all need to pay so much more attention to Satan...and remain alert. When we let our guard down he is sure to step in, no matter how secure we are in our faith. You'd think as we get older it would get easier but that is when we often become complacent.
No one is beyond spiritual seduction.
The Word warns us that the devil
goes seeking those he can devour.
Unfortunately he knows just where
we are weakest and that's just where
he attacks.
Very wise advice today.
Hugs~
It is so easy for me to see when others are being seduced but when it comes to myself, how often the blinders are on.
So many ways I am seduced and so many times I don't even see it until I find myself in a mess. Thankfully the Lord always there ready to forgive once again.
Janette, I believe I happened upon your blog for a reason. It would appear that we are struggling through a similar season. The journey is not an easy one. The Lord brought me to Isaiah 43:19 just this morning and I noted that you had this verse on the top of your blog also. It seems the Lord is speaking to me very clearly. I am not alone and He is doing a new thing! Amen? Thanks for your post.
Very thought provoking post, Janette. Seduction takes many forms... Your husband is a wise man. Thank you for giving me food for thought today. blessings ~ tanna
Often we don't know ourselves well enough to know where Satan is going to tempt us then again we know all to well and choose to ignore the warnings......
The evil one is good at slipping in the back door.....
Staying in the Word and observing God's presence all day is the only hope we have.......
Great post...much to ponder here....
Seduction is easier as there is a portion we want which is where the blinders come in. How easy to fall indeed.
Good morning...don't know how I missed this yesterday...this is soo good Janette. It is just soo true. We ARE seduced without knowing we are, for that IS what seduction is. I am afraid there are a few areas that get me every time. And every time I sit back later and think, "How did I fall for this AGAIN Lord?" Unfornately the enemy knows our weak areas and is there waiting to devour us. We must fill ourselves EVERY DAY with the power that is in His Holy Spirit to fight these battles for us. Soo much to think about here. Hope you have a good day! HUGS
That's such a good way to point out how seduction works. We rarely see it for what it is at the time. That's what happened to me with credit card debt. I was definitely seduced and when I finally saw it for what it was I was stunned that I could have been so blind to what was happening. Thankfully, God has worked it out and I can honestly say "never again."
Great post!
Good post, Janette. There are hundreds of ways that one can be seduced to be sure. We must always be on the alert and ask the Lord for discernment at all times to know when something is not good for us. I pray that for my children, too, as I see them becoming adults. Seduction into sin, in whatever fashion, can affect any and all of us! Thank the Lord we have our Saviour who has gone through it, too, to fight for us!
I agree! We all have our weakness in life. It is good to have the "knowledge" of what it/they are.
Yes, the 'master of deceit' is definately at work.
I'm always, praying for that hedge of protection around those I love, as well as myself!
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