Bate and switch

I like to eat at Subway. They have a "little" sandwich called the "feast" that is almost too much for even ME to finish. What I don't like is this billboard. It is a blatant example of the deceptiveness of sin. It grabs your attention and then redirects your actions; it controls you at the most basic of levels. This concept is seen in one of the most revealing passages in the New Testament.

Matt 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.
3 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."
4 But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"
5 Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
6 and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will give his angels charge concerning you.' and, 'On their hands they will bear you up, So that you don't dash your foot against a stone.'"
7 Jesus said to him, "Again, it is written, 'You shall not test the Lord, your God.'"
8 Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.
9 He said to him, "I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me."
10 Then Jesus said to him, "Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'"
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.WEB


Hunger, fear and the desire for power are very powerful motivators; right up there with sex. The devil used them to try to control Jesus for his own evil motives. He didn't succeed and the reason for it was Jesus' love and trust in God and his knowledge of the word of God. We can overcome evil just like Jesus did, but we need to realize that Satan will tempt us in any and every way possible to create a wedge between the creator and the created. Once Satan gets your attention, watch out for his bate and switch tactics; they are very dangerous. So is eating too many subs; especially ones with names like "The feast".