James 1:12-18, was the passage I studied this morning. Won't you take time and read and meditate through this short passage?  [Side note: experts say that meditating 20min. a day assists in weight loss!]

 

A couple things to notice in this passage:

1) When we get through temptation we should be joyful! (vs. 12)

2) God will bless you for getting through...(vs. 12)

3) God is God... He cannot be tempted and will NOT tempt you (vs. 13)

4) Who tempts you?  YOU do!  Your personal evil desires leads you away... leading to sin and sin grows to death (vs. 14,15).

5) Every good gift and thing comes from God (vs. 16, 17)

6) We matter to God and He gives us life (vs. 18)

 

Have you ever been on a sports team?  If not, have you ever watched a sports game?  Well, I'm sure at least once you have!   Lets think to elementary school when you just starting learning to play... you may not have been good, maybe confused or easily excited...  Reminisce with me..It's the end of the basketball game the score is close 20-22. Things get crazy on the court... the ball gets loose... you scramble to the ball, take off running to the other side of the court... getting excited about this close victory you make a basket!  You expect to hear cheering and applause, however, you just found out you made a basket on the wrong end of the court- you "aided the enemy (Lucado 15)"    

 

Why does this hurt so much?  It's because you helped your opponent win!  As Christians, the world, our flesh, Satan and God fight for our attention... are you going to help the enemy?  Or are you going to cling to God, pay attention to those evil desires and either face them head on or run from them?