“And supper being ended,
the devil having already put it
into the heart of Judas Iscariot,
Simon’s son, to betray him…”
John 13:2

Judas was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. Satan spoke to his heart that he should betray Jesus. It makes you wonder how Judas, having seen the multitudes of miracles Christ did, could possibly be tempted to betray him. So how did it happen?

Judas had charge over the money purse and he had already started with petty theft (John 12:6). So we see a progression: first he was tempted to take money – to weaken his conscience – and eventually he was weakened enough for Satan to drop into his heart the diabolical plot to betray Jesus.

The progression of sin is gradual. Satan tempts with something small, then gradually increases the temptations.

“But each one is tempted when he is
drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
Then, when desire has conceived,
it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown,
brings forth death.”
James 1:14-15

You’ve probably heard that God has a plan for your life. Well Satan also has a plan for your life. He’ll begin with tempting you in small ways. Then he’ll weaken you with greater temptations. As he leads you along, you won’t realize what’s happening. It’s like the frog in the pot – it heats up so gradually that the frog is unaware …until it kills him. Satan’s plan is to finally destroy you.

Don’t think you’re wiser than Satan. He knows your weaknesses and cleverly targets you in his personalized plan to destroy you.

So how can you prevent it? By not toying with sin in the first place. And by feeding daily in the Word of God.

“KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE,
For out of it spring the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:27