Provocation
Provocation;
The Devil’s Trump (no reference; implied) Card..
But where there is no taking the Bait;
Then nothing is accomplished…
But the People that they hurt,
The Sins that they do…
The Salvations they prevent;
Will answer to God Almighty…
We confess all of our Fears,
Of Provocations and Provocateurs…
Of Provocotive spirits, situations and things;
And all provocations within whatever things…
Most of the time, it is not even the devil. It is definitely not God.
“When you are tempted to do wrong, do not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ God cannot be tempted. He will never tempt anyone. A man is tempted to do wrong when he lets himself be led by what his bad thoughts tell him to do. When he does what his bad thoughts tell him to do, he sins. When sin completes its work, it brings death.” James 1:13-15
Just like those who will end up being cast into hell, got there, not because of the devil, not because God sends them, but they go there by choice. Their own choice. Sadly.
Peter
Maybe the best way to say it is: the enemy may tempt and provoke, but we’re still responsible for how we respond.