Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. James 1:14 NABRE
James speaks of the reward coming to a person who perseveres in temptation as the crown of life, but warns if a person yields to evil desire and sin, the final outcome is death. James begins saying blessed is the one who perseveres in temptation, or trials. Trials may be an experience of suffering or trouble that tests a person constancy in faith while temptation refers to an enticement to sin or to turn away from God. James declares temptation is not from God, “God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one.” God is not temptable, there is no inclination or tendency toward evil in God, nor does God engage in interior battles against evil desires. The source for temptations arise from our own desires. All desires are not to be denounced, only those disordered, those that attract us to evil or wrong doing. The person who yields to temptation is a victim of seductions, “lured and enticed” by personal desires. There is a force within the person who yields to temptation that wells up from deep within them to trap and ensnare them. Unlike a person who preserves, the person who surrenders to evil desires allows them to grow. Growth in evil desires brings forth sin and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death. For James, temptation can lead to perseverance then life, or temptation can lead to sin then death.
We must depend on our connection to God to have the strength given by the Holy Spirit to persevere, never letting down our guard, always fighting off disordered desires leading to sin. Sin is separation from God, so it becomes impossible to fight temptation and we end up in a state of consciousness that is life without God, which we call death.
Do you persevere in temptation? Do you call on God to persevere?
We must depend on our connection to God to have the strength given by the Holy Spirit to persevere, never letting down our guard, always fighting off disordered desires leading to sin. Click To Tweet#bible’#godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #tempt #sin #James #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #Matthew #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways