Scripture:
James 1:12-15 ESV
[12] Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. [13] Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God can not be tempted with evil, and he tempts no one. [14] But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Observation:
I honestly wanted to back up and share most of James’ chapter one with you guys. Because I believe the first few verses kind of tie in with these verses, we are going to dive into them. James starts out these verses by talking about being steadfast under trials. He never says there won’t be trials but wants his readers to know that there will be tests. Even if we do back up, we see that as James explains the defense against the trials is joy. Understanding that GOD will use it to make their faith even better than it was before. Taking a little twist here, James explains where the real temptation comes from…and honestly, I think it’s good information. Because it allows us to see what needs to be changed. He tells his readers that when they can withstand the temptation, GOD takes notice and will reward them. Now, where does it all come from? Well, let me explain. Our hearts are the problem. They are deceitful and wicked at the core. They will lead us astray. James brings that out in the open by saying your temptation comes from within you. It’s what you want, and your heart is the cause of it. The enemy simply capitalizes on what is inside you. He makes it clear that GOD is not the one who tempts anyone. Now, when someone gives in to the temptation, the hook is set in, and the process has to start all over again. Which very well could end in death.
Application:
In case you didn’t notice… the devil made me do it excuse just went out the window. I think about the process of temptation, kind of like fishing. Have you ever noticed the first thing a fisherman asks the guy upstream fishing? “What are they biting on?” I would imagine that a question you already know the answer to in your life. What is your weakness? What is the one thing that the enemy can lure and entice Lure and entice you away from your purpose? So the reason I look at it is like fishing is this… when you are fishing, you drop a line in the water with a worm on it. The fish looks at it and swims around it carefully, approaching it and thinking, “Oh man, it’s just a worm. I’m going to eat it. ” Not even seeing the hook… but now it’s too late. He is on someone’s plate, and he didn’t even see it coming. Staying steadfast under trial is so very important. We never really see what the enemy has hidden under the temptation that is held in our hearts. There is always a price to pay for sin. We must stay in a repentant state. Seeing the temptation for what it is can make or break us… and being able to shut it down is the key. As we read for a few days, there is no temptation that is not uncommon to man… and GOD will always provide a way of escape. You are never trapped… you can always leave… or do nothing… and know that GOD has your back. The enemy wants us to think we have to do it his way, but we don’t GOD gave us the ability to say a very important word “NO” That word set me free from so many sins and temptations that it blows my mind. “NO,” that’s a small word that carries the authority of Jesus Christ… in the name of Jesus “NO” I don’t have to live like that anymore. Because of that, word chains have been broken so that my kids may never have to experience them. My challenge to you is this get in GOD’S word and let it change your heart so that your desires will be what HE desires for you… and those are the desires HE will have no problem giving you.
Prayer:
Father, we know that you are not the one who tempts us. This morning, our prayer is pretty simple. We want to see it for what it is… a trap… a hook … Satan’s bait that takes us away from your will for our lives. We pray that you would change our hearts. So that they would line up with what you want for us. Make our desires the same as your desires’ father. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.