Bible Reading
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:13-15
James 1:13-15
Devotional
We all have heard of or seen people, perhaps on TV or in real life, who have strange pets: A python, alligator, tiger, or maybe a raccoon or two. It looks so strange to see an animal, normally out in the wild, in captivity and possibly even wearing a collar or some funny-looking pieces of human clothing. When they are small, most of these wild, exotic pets are cute and even cuddly, but over time that pet begins to grow larger. These pets can often become dangerous over time and many exotic pet owners have had their pets put down or put into a cage because what used to be easily controllable has now become out of control.
A similar thing happens when it comes to sin and temptation. At first, flirting with sin can be seen as fun and even seem harmless and well under control. A drug addiction never starts as a drug addiction. An affair starts with a wink or a lingering glance. A thought becomes a habit that eventually turns into an obsession. Our choices take us one step closer, even if those first steps are only out of curiosity or intrigue. Over time, we may realize that all those tiny steps have added up to something we thought we desired but now don't really want. People often want what they desire, but don't want the consequences of what they desire. They want the taste of an ice cream sundae but without the calories. It is our own evil desires that entice and drag us away from what God has for us. When it comes to temptation, always remember that God doesn't tempt people. God cannot be tempted, nor does he tempt, because tempting to do evil is evil in itself. There is a major difference between tempting and testing. God tests a person, he tests the spiritual armor they are wearing or claim to wear. But Satan looks for weaknesses and exploits those weaknesses. God tests with the hope that you will stand stronger. Satan tempts you with the hope that you will become weaker and fall. God tests you so that you will be stronger and more free. Satan tempts you so that you will be weaker and more enslaved to sin. The desire that leads to sin will continue to grow if it is not dealt with and repented of, and that fully grown sin, like a wild animal, is destructive and will lead to spiritual death and separation from God.
That is a lot of bad news if you think about it. But it's the bad news about what sin can do that actually makes the good news so good. No matter how trapped or enslaved you think you are, God has made a way of escape through the blood of Jesus. No one has to live as a slave to sin any longer! No one has to experience spiritual death and disconnection from God any longer! The beauty of salvation is that you are passing from death to life. You have stepped out of the shackles of sin and the domain of darkness and into the wonderful light and freedom of Jesus. The Devil, that roaring lion, has been caged and you need not fear him anymore.
A similar thing happens when it comes to sin and temptation. At first, flirting with sin can be seen as fun and even seem harmless and well under control. A drug addiction never starts as a drug addiction. An affair starts with a wink or a lingering glance. A thought becomes a habit that eventually turns into an obsession. Our choices take us one step closer, even if those first steps are only out of curiosity or intrigue. Over time, we may realize that all those tiny steps have added up to something we thought we desired but now don't really want. People often want what they desire, but don't want the consequences of what they desire. They want the taste of an ice cream sundae but without the calories. It is our own evil desires that entice and drag us away from what God has for us. When it comes to temptation, always remember that God doesn't tempt people. God cannot be tempted, nor does he tempt, because tempting to do evil is evil in itself. There is a major difference between tempting and testing. God tests a person, he tests the spiritual armor they are wearing or claim to wear. But Satan looks for weaknesses and exploits those weaknesses. God tests with the hope that you will stand stronger. Satan tempts you with the hope that you will become weaker and fall. God tests you so that you will be stronger and more free. Satan tempts you so that you will be weaker and more enslaved to sin. The desire that leads to sin will continue to grow if it is not dealt with and repented of, and that fully grown sin, like a wild animal, is destructive and will lead to spiritual death and separation from God.
That is a lot of bad news if you think about it. But it's the bad news about what sin can do that actually makes the good news so good. No matter how trapped or enslaved you think you are, God has made a way of escape through the blood of Jesus. No one has to live as a slave to sin any longer! No one has to experience spiritual death and disconnection from God any longer! The beauty of salvation is that you are passing from death to life. You have stepped out of the shackles of sin and the domain of darkness and into the wonderful light and freedom of Jesus. The Devil, that roaring lion, has been caged and you need not fear him anymore.