Round Two (Luke 4:13)

“Hey. Sorry to bother you, I know it has been a while but I have an emergency. I am out of the country and have trouble texting you or using my cell phone. Can you just reply to this and let me know you got this? Thanks. Sally”

I was in the middle of signing out my cases when this email came from a colleague with whom I infrequently interact. Without thinking, I immediately replied to the email and within a few minutes I received a reply.

“Thanks for replying. Sorry, my nephew’s birthday is today and I wanted to send him an Amazon gift card. Do you think you can order it for me and send it to him? Don’t worry, I will pay you back.”

Now THAT was unusual. I immediately called Sally, hoping that she did have a cell phone connection. 

“Hi Sally. Just checking that you need that gift card?”

Sally was flustered. “Oh no. You got it too?” Her answer said it all. Her email account had been hacked.

“I woke up this morning and I received dozens of phone calls from my friends asking me about the email and request.”

A few years ago, many of us were victimized by an email scam that requested our signature on a frequently used document signing program. The email address and sender were legitimate and I almost opened it until I decided to call the sender who confirmed that he had been hacked and it was a scam. Today’s episode alerted me that round two of email hacking and scamming by unscrupulous cyber invaders was beginning. 

Most of us recognize a dangerous situation when we encounter it. It is during the times when we are distracted that we are most vulnerable to stumbling. I was distracted with my work and I didn’t think it unusual that my colleague would email me, albeit the message was odd. Like this false email, Satan can usurp familiar and friendly situations and manipulate them to lure me away from God. 

At the beginning of the ministry of Jesus Christ, Satan challenged Jesus Christ with three temptations. Our Lord was steadfast in His faith to God, His Father, and withstood the temptations. However, at the end, Satan was not done with Jesus and the temptation ends with this foreboding statement. 

When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.

Luke 4:13 (NLT)

Round two!

Like our Lord Jesus Christ, Satan is always looking to attack us with situations that will mislead and take us down the pathway to sin. Will I be ready to withstand the next temptation to let my defenses down and succumb to the wiles of the devil? Absolutely! God always provides the answer to our most distressing needs. 

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7 (NLT)

I must remain vigilant to Satan’s intrusions in my life. The first step is to acknowledge that I, alone, do not have the power or strength to resist Satan’s temptations. I  need to call upon my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and rely upon the power of His Resurrection to resist the devil. 

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.