LEARNING DAILY

James 1:13-14, 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.

Not one person is immune to temptation. It began in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. When confronted by the Lord, Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the devil. Each of us is still faced with temptation – every day! Today, however, the world system has created a philosophy where nothing is right or wrong and how the issues we face are addressed have no accountability. I wonder if the ability to recognize and identify evil has come. Isaiah 5:20, “What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.” (NLT). I think it is safe to say this prophecy has come to pass.

The times we live in today are like the times of James. Society promotes life without moral absolutes. The struggles faced today are given as opportunities to trust God more; they can also be used as excuses to stop trusting Him and place faith in something else or place the blame for our actions on someone or something else. Only a few minutes listening to the news will give you the knowledge that there are no moral restraints on words spoken, actions taken, or even relationships. There are those who have bragged about their life without moral restraint – professional athletes, politicians, businessmen and women, and even Christian leaders.

No one can try to explain their sinful behavior as something God did, like make them the way they are. God cannot sin; therefore, He cannot tempt anyone with sin. He cannot do anything that will tempt Believers to walk in a way contrary to His will. He desires Believers to walk closer with Him not in a way that moves away from Him. Go back and read this entire passage written by James. Do you notice anything or anyone not mentioned? James never mentions the devil. Even in the Garden of Eden the devil simply gives Eve the idea to question what God said, and she took it from there.

James writes (verse 14) that temptation comes from our own desires! What does it mean for one to be “tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire?” There are a lot of desires that are good; the problem comes when a person tries to satisfy those desires outside of the boundary of God’s will. For example, eating is a good desire until it becomes eating to excess. One might want to eat, until he/she cannot eat anymore. There is at times the desire to do what one knows is sin is really tempting. When saved a person is set free from slavery to sin, but that does not mean the desire to sin is lost.

This entire thing is a personal sin.  James writes “each person” is enticed or drawn away. What causes one to be tempted may not be the same thing as temptation for another. Each Believer is responsible for their “own desires.” Don’t blame God, the devil, or circumstances. Stay away from those things that cause you to be tempted. Stay out of the places that cause you to be tempted. Get the idea? If there is no evil desire in one’s heart, there is no temptation to sin.