Temptation...

This week at middle school club we talked through James 1:9-18.  The main focus was on verses 13-18 which talk about temptation.

Most of the time when we do something wrong, we immediately look for someone else to blame...it could never be our fault, right? My older brother convinced me to do it, all of my friends do it, or even God made me do it...

Wrong! According to James, the desire to do what we know is wrong comes from within us. Check out James 1:13-14...

"Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God;' for God cannot be tempted by evil and He Himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust."

So that desire to do what is wrong comes from within us.  Bummer.  If you don't believe me, check out the following verses that show the character of God verses the character of man...

God..Deut 10:17, Ps 7:17, Ps 34:8, Ps 100:5  Man...Is 64:6, Rom 3:23, Rom 5:12


We see then in James 1:15, that the lust, desire to do what is wrong, inside of us can turn into sin if we act on it.  And sin without the saving grace of Jesus leads to death.  BUT what's amazing is that in James 1:18, we see that the Lord provided a way, through the word of truth, that we might be considered His children.  That way is only through the cross of Jesus Christ. 


We all are faced with temptation each day...but dont lose heart, the Lord has provided a way out for those who believe in Him.  Turn to Him and trust Him that He will be able to help you resist temptation and thus grow stronger in your faith!