Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. James 1:12-15
The Pattern and Result of Sin
As we have been looking at strongholds over the past couple of months it seems to me that a few of the strongholds build on each other and if we don’t catch what is happening it can lead to ultimate failure. The scripture above talks about temptation and desire drawing us away from God and leading us down the path to destruction.
What is the pattern of sin?
But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
Temptation comes as a result of our own fleshly desires being enticed — with the world and the devil providing the enticement. Satan loves for us to be tempted and he knows that we can be hooked by those temptations because of our sin nature – our “flesh.” If we allow our sin nature to be tempted and enticed this is when desire has conceived and given birth to sin. Sin only ever leads us away from God and towards death.
How are we allured and enticed away from God?
We can get so careless sometimes in allowing ourselves to be tempted and drawn in. Yes I did say allowing ourselves to be tempted and drawn in. We carelessly think we can stay in control and just dabble a little in a desire here or there. But the swiftness with which we can be drawn away is as swift as the rushing flood waters that carry us away before we even realize we are really in trouble. It makes our head swim and before the confusion clears we are hooked.
We also get careless when we do not stop some of the other strongholds when they start. When we become dissatisfied we start down the road of becoming discontent which is a heart issue. This is when we start seeking out idols to bring us the contentment that is only found in Jesus. In seeking these idols, contentment, and satisfaction, we put ourselves and our fleshly desires on the throne of our lives, making an ultimate idol of ourselves. It is our own fleshly desires that will be our downfall if we are not rooted deeply in our Savior. It happens fast, and getting away from it hard to do because it has a hold on us.
What is the result of our sin?
Who is the blessed man in these verses?
Blessed is the one who endures trials…
It seems contrary to our way of thinking but James tells us that the blessed man is the one who endures trials. Why is that? Because the person who endures trials has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. A person who endures trial and perseveres in their faith grows stronger and God can use everything we endure for his glory. James 1:2-4 says Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Trials test our faith and when we go through trials we see just how strong our faith is. When we keep trusting God through the trials our faith grows even stronger. Strong faith produces mature Jesus followers.
What, then, are we to do to defeat the temptations in our lives?
Temptation is an invitation to sin, a beckoning down the wrong path away from God. Although as Jesus followers Satan cannot force us to sin, he can attempt to lead us into temptation. He knows our weaknesses and he will put thoughts into our minds that can lead us to sin. To defeat temptation, we must abide in Christ. We must study God’s word, apply it to our lives, and pray. The Bible is one of our best defenses. We can find scripture to help us and memorize it. We can remove things from our life that brings temptation to sin. Maybe that is finding an accountability partner that you are vulnerable with about your weaknesses. Meet with them regularly and give an account of how you have done – where there has been victory and where you have failed? Maybe it means staying out of stores or other places that are a weakness for you. Maybe it means finding new friends if there are people in your life that encourage you to give in to temptation. Maybe it means staying off social media and the internet.
God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us live the Christian life. All Christians have the Holy Spirit but sometimes we do not all walk in the spirit, giving him control. With the help of the Holy Spirit we are ready to overcome any temptation. He is always with us and he is far more powerful than any of Satan’s schemes.
