
As some of you may know, I am currently in my first year of law school! Before coming to law school, I had to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). For several months, I took classes, collected massive books, and devoted many hours of my day to studying for the LSAT.
Unsurprisingly, the test makers love to throw people off, and they employ some interesting tactics to do so. They know that most people are nervous, under-pressure, and exhausted, so they try to take advantage of those circumstances. For such an important test, the last thing I wanted to do was walk in unprepared. I knew if I did, they would have me right where they wanted me!
One study strategy that I adopted was looking over the common wrong answer choices. As it turns out, one common wrong answer choice sprinkled throughout the test is called the "Half-Right, Half-Wrong" choice. As the name would suggest, this is when the first half of the answer choice is correct, so it sets the tone for the whole choice to look good. However, the second half of the answer choice is completely wrong, but it is easier to miss because we are so attracted to the first half. To make it even more interesting, this type of answer choice would typically appear as the option just before the correct answer, so the test taker would be tripped up just in time for the real thing.
If you think about it, that's a common tactic of the enemy. He loves to whisper things in your ear like, "God loves you and will always forgive you, so it's okay to fornicate, stay angry, seek revenge, and give in to your flesh. After all, it's natural!" The first half is absolutely true. God does love us and He is gracious enough to constantly forgive us, even when we don't deserve it. But, watch out! The second half is completely wrong! God's love and forgiveness do not give us a free pass to sin! If this were the LSAT, that answer choice would be "Half-right, Half-wrong", which makes the whole thing wrong!
2 Corinthians 11:14 - "And no wonder since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light."
This means that the devil does not come looking like the devil, but rather he comes looking like an attractive choice. This often happens right as the Lord is about to bless you with His will for your life. What makes it even more difficult is that these moments tend to coincide with times when we are more sensitive and feeling the pressures of life. Just as you are seeking the Lord for His will, the enemy will send in a distracting answer choice!
Some of us are in Half-Right, Half-Wrong relationships. Whether they are romantic relationships, friendships, family relationships, or influences, we have people that encourage us to do right only half the time, which is not enough. Imagine with me that you have a partner, and you two love to read and discuss the Bible together. That's right! But let's say you have struggled with sexual purity in the past. If when things get tempting, you two cave and justify it with God's love and forgiveness, there is a good chance that you are in a Half-right, Half-wrong relationship, which makes the whole relationship wrong!
Begin marking out the Half-Right, Half-Wrong people and things in your life, so you can move on to your God-ordained correct answer choices!
Shayla
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