Monday, October 5, 2009

Perspectives & Reminders from James Chapter 1 (Part 2)

James 1:12-15 gives us a whole lot of information about temptation including how it starts and where it leads. The perspective we need to take is that temptation can lead to sin but it is not sin itself. We need to quit beating ourselves up over the temptation. Temptation is just another test where we get to show ourselves and God that we are listening and we have made our minds up to obey.

Verses 13-15 say so much I think we all need to commit them to memory:

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.



Right off the bat we can see that our temptation does not come from God. There are pieces and parts of us that God has not dealt with yet or that God has tried to deal with and we keep failing the test. So these parts of us that we have not surrendered to God are what ends up being enticed during a temptation. If when tempted we don't turn in the opposite direction and run, we may be dragged away and enticed. At this point it will be even harder to resist the temptation, be it in our minds or in real time in front of us. Once that desire has conceived, then it births sin. And birthed sin not dealt with leads to death.

Reminders:

  • Temptation is not sin
  • When you feel tempted, stop and turn from the temptation
  • Cry out to God for wisdom and help if turning doesn't turn the temptation off
  • Even if you go with the temptation for a minute think about the consequences of letting that temptation entice you
  • Think death, if not physical death, at the very least impaired spiritual health if that temptation is conceived and births sin
  • Not taking care of your spiritual health makes the church sick and makes nonchristians point at us and accuse us of being like the world
  • When we sin we taint the name of Jesus to the world we are trying to reach.
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2 comments:

  1. Miss JodyOctober 7, 2009 at 8:04 PM

    So many people care way more for their physical health than they do for their spiritual health. Most people would not have just a few smokes or get drunk once a week. Some won't even eat fast food because of what it might do to their bodies, but skip church, don't pray, forget to read your Bible. These things they think...no big deal.

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  2. karenOctober 7, 2009 at 8:55 PM

    Bodily exercise profits a little but godliness is profitable in this life and the life to come.

    I think the verse actually says profits little.

    You make a good point above. :)

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