James 1:13-18

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. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

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I read this passage in James this morning and thought I would share with you all. It is a sober warning and a great encouragement! He describes sin in such a vivid way - "lured and enticed by our desires." How we all know that feeling! It is easy to fall into the trap of believing that when something difficult happens, when a trial or temptation comes, that God is somehow trying to make us fall. But let us not be deceived, says James. How encouraging that it is never our loving and unchanging Father that tempts us. He gives only good and perfects gifts. He sends us trials only for our good and our sanctification! He wants to purge away the sin that entices us and makes us fall, and his grace is sufficient for any trial he may send.

I pray the Lord gives me grace for the trials that will come and that I may rejoice in them knowing that my God is conforming me more and more into the likeness of his son Jesus Christ!