I love the practical wisdom
of James. Every verse is a stopping point.
Reading this morning my
eyes stuck to verse 13-15, so when I finished, that’s where I lingered in my
devotions.
When
tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by
evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil
desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it
gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to
death (13-15).
Temptations are a troubling
thing. Are they from me? From God’s enemy, the devil? From God? Who among us
hasn’t asked these questions? I know I have (and sometimes I wonder if it really
matters; temptation come, this I know!) But this verse does clear up a few
things.
My third possibility… ‘are
they from God?’ comes off the table with verse 13. God is not to
blame!
James also helps me to see
that temptations expose my inner sinfulness; they are the bloom of my own evil desires(s). Now surely God’s
enemy can be, and often is at work, baiting me and tickling my own evil desires.
But as I ponder these verses, it seems that if I can root out the evil desires
within me, by God’s grace and the work of the Holy Spirit sanctifying my life,
then there will be less possibility for the evil one to tickle my evil desires
and less opportunity for me to be dragged
away and enticed…
Well I have much more
meditating to do… but this I know. I need God’s help to root out the evil
desires that war within me!
Help me, Lord
Jesus! Help me, Holy Spirit! Help me, Father to lay everything at Your feet, to
receive Your cleansing and Your victory… that You might receive all the glory
and all the honor for any godly life-change with in me!
Hallelujah to
my Savior! Amen.
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