And He (Jesus) said to His disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!" Luke 17:1

Ashley was offered a job opportunity that was too good to be true.

That was what the sophisticated lady at the Wal-Mart in Harrisville, Utah, told her. The lady went on to explain she was a recruiter for a restaurant chain, and they were looking for someone like Ashley who would receive bonuses and become "manager material."

Ashley said the job "looked good, sounded good," and the lady talking to her was "really, really nice."

That's why Ashley eagerly filled out the application. She gladly shared detailed information about herself. She gave her full name; she wrote down past work experiences, and she shared the names, numbers and addresses of other friends.

When they asked Ashley for the particulars concerning her bank account, she never hesitated. After all, she had been told the money coming to her as a future supervisor would soon be pouring in.

The lady had told the truth. When Ashley checked her account, she was pleased to find some extra deposits had been made. It was only when that money disappeared and took with it the rest of her account that Ashley became truly concerned.

She should have been concerned. She had just joined the growing ranks of people in Utah who had been bilked out of their hard-earned cash.

It is hardly the first time such a thing has happened. Adam and Eve were bilked out of the Garden when they listened to an offer too good to be true. David found Bathsheba was too good to be true, as did Judas who betrayed his Master for 30 pieces of silver.

If you look back at your life, maybe you can find such an incident -- a moment in time when you bought into a temptation that was too good to be true.

If so, give thanks for your forgiving Savior. When we sin, He forgives. When we stumble, He picks us up. When we fall victim to an enticing temptation, He ransoms us through His blood upon the cross.

Jesus is the one Person who is too good to be true but who is ... true, that is.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, temptations come to us and all too often we fall victim to them. We pray You will grant us a faith that will help us discern when the forces of evil are encouraging us to follow something that is really too good to be true. This I ask in the Savior's Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 96-98    Acts 17:1-15

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