The other day I tweeted about temptation but the more I thought about it the more I felt the need to write these thoughts down. Even if only I could refer back to them. So if you're reading and this at all helps to get the gears in your head working, awesome!What brought to mind this topic was a weekly Bible study I do with a few friends. We just started the book of James, and it's been great. This is not the first time I've read the book of James or have even studied it for that matter, but this time was different. Two verses that I have read numerous times hit me right between the eyes like never before. The two verses 'm talking about are James 1:13-14, they read as follows: 13 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. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
I've read that many time and always I would come away with the fact that God cannot be temped or tempt. That was always it! The part that stuck out like never before was the part that reads "he is lured and enticed by his own desires".
Often times we here this from people when talking about their sin "the devil made me do it" or "Satan keeps attacking me with this or that" The point is, is that the root problem of our temptation is not Satan, it's our own sinful hearts.
Our temptation is a result of the true desires that dwell within our hearts. As sinful people we don't desire the things of God. We want to please ourselves by giving ourselves whatever it is that makes us happy in that moment. I think God knew what he was doing when he put the rest of this chapter together. Later in the chapter it talks about using the scriptures as a mirror to your life.
Does your life reflect the things that are taught in the Bible? Is it the things of God that flow from your heart. Do you desire what God desires?
When we desire to do what God desires for us, just like light in darkness, Gods desires will overcome or sinful desires. Then our temptations will be to do what God calls us to.
