James 1 -- It's All About US on THIS One

Yesterday, as Josh and I were leaving early, he’d changed the radio station and I heard the singer singing, “God made me hard to handle.”  The second I heard it, I thought, “Don’t blame God for that!” 

James picks up that thread this morning – “When people are tempted, they should not say, ‘God is tempting me.’  Evil cannot tempt God, and God Himself does not tempt anyone.  But people are tempted when their own evil desire leads them away and TRAPS them.  This desire leads to sin, and then the sin GROWS and brings death.”

A little later, James gives us some help in avoiding the desire that leads to sin:  “In gentleness accept God’s teaching that is planted in your hearts … Do what God’s teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves.”

In other words, if we found ourselves tempted and we failed, we can’t say, “It’s Your fault, God!  You made me this way!”  Instead, when the desire raises its ugly head, God says to cry out for help right then and He’ll immediately respond.  Too often, we don’t do what God’s teaching says – myself included.

Father, thanks for the reminder.  I too find myself trying to take what I wrongly believe is the easy road, thinking that’s just the way I was made.  But You don’t create junk.  I’m Your child, and I should always act like I’m Your, not act like a child, wanting only what I want.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford