Wednesday, July 30, 2008
James 1:12-15
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 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. (ESV)
by Leota Stevens
Satan would so like to paint this scene with the broad stroke of the wrong brush, using the wrong colors and focusing in on the wrong subject. Every man, woman, and child on this planet is tempted to do what their conscience says is wrong. Satan’s perspective is to lay the blame on God for the temptation, thus absolving man of any personal choice in this matter and adding to the victim-mentality that is so obvious in society. We need to see the issue more clearly. We follow and succumb to temptation when we are led by our own desires. God knows this to be a fact and provides strength through relationship with him for all who trust him to withstand the gravitational pull of their own nature.
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2008, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service .
dbm