Digging Deeper James 1:13-15

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Points to ponder:
We've all been there, haven't we? We are unique in many ways, and in many ways the same. Why does something tempt me but you could care less about it? And vice versa? What makes something tempting to one person and not another? James indicates that we are lured and enticed by our own desires. In that we are each unique, not THAT we are lured and enticed but BY what we are lured and enticed.

Then when desire has been conceived... the sin is not in having the desire but in giving it enough attention and energy it thus conceives and bears sin. We think too highly of ourselves that we think we can dabble and not get hooked. It's like a fish thinking it can nibble at the worm AROUND the hook and not get caught. It may succeed a few times but eventually it gets greedy and wants the whole worm but within the worm lays the hook. A hook has a barb on the end so that once a fish has taken the bait and the hook is set, it cannot easily get off the hook. Sin is much the same. We may play around the outskirts but eventually because of our own desires we take the bait and hook. Once we have done so it is very difficult to spit the hook out because in all honesty we WANT what it is we WANT. We don't want the hook, but we want the worm.

Scripture wisdom:
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

"... and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." Romans 13:14

"Flee sexual immorality." 1 Corinthians 6:18

"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." 1 Corinthians 10:14

"Flee also youthful lusts." 2 Timothy 2:22

"...Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7

Resist. Flee. Make no provision for your flesh. Die to self.

"For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Romans 8:13

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." Romans 8:5

"...seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator... " Colossians 3: 9-10

"...to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24

Blessings, Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.