God’s destination, our journey (part 3)
January 12, 2012
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.
January 12, 2012 at 10:58 pm
I always love the way James reminds us how we are to live as Believers. When pondering “temptation”, I always find comfort in 1Cr 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
January 16, 2012 at 9:51 am
My response Pastor Joe to this blog will be one of “revelation and praise.” Of course I’ve read this passage many times and just accepted the fact that I will continue to be stretched, pruned and tested this side of heaven. Ouch!
One of the definitions of endure/endurance in Webster’s Dictionary is: test of a machine/person to see if it/he works well under bad conditions.
I have a family member who is difficult to be around because of personality traits that rub against my grain. I love him dearly and will always be there for him. I have gone down several dark roadways with this person that left me so angry, hurt, frustrated and spent in every way. It’s been a long haul for me because I lacked God’s wisdom and allowed the evil one to suck me in every time. How he knows our weakness!
Then as the Good Lord would have it, He in His infinite love and mercy for me sent two-not one but two employees into my office each with the same personality traits. As office manager, I have to execute my authority in such a way as to not offend but to correct when needed in a professional way. Oh, how I failed at first with each of them in many ways. It got me no where and those old feelings came back to haunt me.
A co-worker, a Jehovah Witness, bless her heart reminded me of this very passage. I was so convicted as to where I needed to be in both situations and realized how much God really loves me. I certainly don’t like the testing of my faith but I understand the necessity of a trial. I know that I must be faithful in obedience to God and with that comes heaps of wisdom, peace and blessings.
I have been filled with compassion for my family member and co-workers, realizing that they don’t know Jesus intimately as I do. They believe in Him but all lack that indescribable intimate relationship with Him.
I was walking in the flesh way too long in this particular situation that cost me and those I love pain and anguish.
As I become “older” in the Lord, I do realize that it is so much easier to recognize that when a trial comes my way, God is at work in me. He loves me that much. His patience with me overflows with His compassion and forgiveness. Who am I if I’m not conformed to His image even in a small way with every trial? Someone I don’t want to be……………
January 24, 2012 at 9:37 am
It sounds like God is leading you to the depths of the knowledge of Christ… the more surrendered we are by faith in Him, the more room He has to work His power in our lives. A battle that will not be finished until glory. Thanks for sharing your heart. Pastor Joe