Monthly Archives: May 2025

James: Sin’s Birth

Posted on by
Reply

(Today we read James 1)

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 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 ‭NIV‬‬

Sin is a choice. It doesn’t just happen. We know the good we should do, but we don’t do it. (James 4:17) There is a progression towards sin and death.

  1. Evil desire — i.e. lust. Longing for what we know is wrong.
  2. Enticement — temptation. Baited. Satan schemes against us. He looks for ways to get us to fall into his sinful traps. He places these lures before us with the desire for us to go after them.
  3. Sin — a voluntary turning from what is right.
  4. Death — Sin separates us from God. God is life. Sin keeps us from His life.

The truth is what we decide to listen to matters. Our evil desires/ lusts are fed by our selfish choices. Our selfish choices are fed by our thoughts.

In Jesus we can live victoriously over sin. He gives us a new heart that desires to follow Him and obey. He has given us His Word that renews our mind to think His thoughts. 

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God has created us to desire. He wants to be our one desire!

Don’t be “dragged away” by choosing to listen to the old lustful desires of your self life. Focus on Jesus and His Word. Let Him be the One Thing you long for!

James — Stand My Ground

Posted on by
Reply 
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

(Today we read James 1)

Persevere – “To persist in any business or enterprise undertaken; to pursue steadily any design or course commenced; not to give over or abandon what is undertaken” Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

Life is not easy! Jesus made it clear that this would always be the case. He told us: 

““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.””
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We are told frequently to “stand firm” in the Word of God. This is another term for the word “persevere.”

James tells us that we are “blessed” (Greek — Happy) if we “persevere” or refuse to abandon what we have undertaken — our close and intimate relationship with Jesus.

There will be tests or our faith, but when we have stood firm throughout the tests we are ultimately promised the “crown of life” (eternal reward and victory).

We are told in Ephesians 6:10 that our strength to make a stand against the enemies schemes is “in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

It is not easy, but it is the best. If we refuse to persevere and give up, our enemy will not stop his assaults. They will only intensify. Because he is bent on our destruction. Jesus put it this way:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Our choice is clear. Persevere — life and true happiness. Cave to the pressure — death, darkness, and destruction.