Seduction

Let’s talk for a minute about seduction…

What does it mean to be seduced?

The short of it is, to be seduced is to be deceived, enticed, tempted, persuaded, etc.

But scripturally speaking, it means something so much deeper.

James 1:14-15 says, “Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

You see, when we consider seduction, we tend to think it’s some external lure like waving a steak in front of a lion. But the biblical truth is that seduction really happens within a person; in the heart, mind, inner man; in Hebrew the heart is called לְבַב-L’vav and it means your inner authority.

Seduction happens when you compromise the authority within you… when a desire separate from Adonai assumes authority and leads you into further thinking on that desire and eventually acting on it…

The desire can come in many forms; desire to nurse anger, greed, lust, self indulgence, self hate, etc. They all occur within, and if left unchecked end up manifesting as sin.

Deuteronomy 11:16 tells us, “Be careful not to let your hearts(לְבַב-L’vav) be seduced, so that you turn aside, serving other gods and worshipping them.”

This is why 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to take every thought captive to make it obey the Messiah. Because if you aren’t vigilant in taking every thought captive, you can wind up doing the very thing Deuteronomy 11:16 warns against.

And another thing about seduction, is that it’s entrances into the mind isn’t always obvious. 

The Hebrew word for seduce-יִפְתֶּ֖ה-Yifteh means “to make wide or open”.

Opening spiritual doors/widening spiritual paths doesn’t happen over night, it can be a very subtle and gradual process. The seduction of nursing anger for instance, can begin with one small and justified offense taken against another person. If left unchecked, it can grow and rule over you and sometimes even result in the sin of forsaking the fellowship of believers all together.

According to Deuteronomy 11:16, in that example seduction has accomplished the enemies mission to get you to serve the god of anger.

So let us actively choose to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and strength.

And let us stay vigilant against the seduction of the Adversary because truly it’s said that he “stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to consume.”- 1 Peter 5:8

Shavua tov, N&M❤️