“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).

By using simplicity this isn’t talking about being simple minded. My Spanish Bible presents it as sincere faithfulness.

Resisting the devil effectively begins with choosing sincere faithfulness to Jesus.

The key to avoiding deception is sincere faithfulness to Jesus.

I purpose again to have Jesus as the Master of my life.

I’ll live for Him.

I want Him to live His life in me.

I like people to commend me. Sometimes I even try to do or say things that will cause people to commend me. That (in my view) is almost as bad as commending myself.

At times, though, the commendation and approval I receive has no value. Because I do not deserve it.

But what about this:

“For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth” (2 Corinthians 10:18).

Just how much do I want His approval?

And what am I willing to do and be in order to gain it?

I wonder if anything I did or said or was yesterday “earned” God’s commendation.