A man must not say when he is tempted, "God is tempting me." For God has no dealings with evil, and does not himself tempt anyone. No, a man's temptation is due to the pull of his own inward desires, which can be enormously attractive. His own desire takes hold of him, and that produces sin. And sin in the long run means death—make no mistake about that, brothers of mine! (James 1:13-16, Phillips)

These verses are clear that God, in His infinite wisdom and goodness, does not tempt us to sin. He does not lay stumbling blocks in our path, seeking our downfall. While he allows challenges to refine us, molding us into stronger vessels of faith, they are never intended to make us sin.

It's essential to distinguish between God's refining and the temptations that arise from our human nature. When we face these trials, we must remember that God's intent is to build us up, not to bring us down.

That means that the source of our struggles is us. Jesus told us this in Mark 7:21-23. Saying the same thing in another way, the cause of sin is in ourselves. Even Satan’s suggestions do not endanger us before they are made our own. Each has his own peculiar lust, arising from his temperament and habit. (Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown Commentary).

Understanding this will help us do two things:

1. Stop blaming God, the devil, others, and items for our sinning. How many times have you said if a had not done b, you would not have don c? It's easy (and dangerous) for us to blame our sinning on someone or something else because we separate our actions from our desires. Moreover, when we do that, we lose power in overcoming temptation.

2. Leave other people alone for what they're tempted by. If you can't do x without falling into sin, don't make other people wrong who can. Focus on what you need to do to avoid temptation, and not project your weakness of the flesh onto others.

Finally, really get that whatever you think you've got a hold of can just as easily get a hold on you, and drag you away. Recall Philip dragging me across the stage this past Sunday. He was in control - not me. The same thing happens to you when your lust causes you to give into sin. You get carried, drawn, and dragged away down a path you didn't intend to go down.

Temptation is no joke. It starts with lust (that comes from within us), leads to sin, and results in death. We'd be wise to discern when we're being tempted, and go the other way (Proverbs 4:14-15).

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I seek clarity and strength in the face of temptation's complexities. I understand that You, in Your wisdom and goodness, do not lead me into sin or set traps in my path. I take responsibility for my actions, resisting the inclination to blame others or project my weaknesses onto them. May I recognize when I'm tempted, and choose the path of righteousness with Your guidance. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever found yourself blaming external factors or others for your own actions or temptations? How can taking personal responsibility empower you to overcome challenges?

2. Reflect on a time when you judged or criticized someone for their struggles or temptations. How might embracing empathy and acknowledging your own temptations to sin change your perspective on the diverse battles we all face?

3. Think about a recent situation where you recognized the pull of temptation. How can you apply the wisdom of discernment to navigate such moments and choose the path of righteousness?

Hymn: Yield not to Temptation

Watch Sunday's Message: Yield Not to Temptation

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