God’s destination, our journey (part 3)

Sin and Temptation (James 1:15-18)

God’s destination for us is that we would be conformed into the image of His Son Jesus. (Romans 8:29)  This means that God wants us to take on in increasing measure the qualities of Christ like love, sacrifice and compassion.    But there are hindrances to joining God on that journey.  James gives us one of those hindrances, which is yielding to temptation and sin which in turns leads us to alienation from God, “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 growth brings forth death.” (vs. 1:14)

James wants us to understand the value of persevering when we are being testing without bringing accusation against God’s character.  When we persevere and endure trusting in God’s goodness on the journey, we are promised a blessing and ‘crown of life.’     The key to victorious living and resisting temptation is to keep our eyes on Jesus who was tempted in every way we are but without sin.  (Heb 4:12)  When we do, then we are fighting our battle not from a position of weakness strength and receive the necessary power to persevere under trial and grow in our journey which is ultimately to bring God glory with our lives.