Loving God, Loving Others, Making Disciples

Seeing Beyond Our Trials

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.

James 1:14-15

We live in a time and culture where we often shift the blame for our failures and struggles onto someone or something else. Our parents, our jobs, the government, a past hurt or disappointment – anywhere but not taking responsibility for our actions. James reminds us that when we are deceived, it raises our desires (think Eve being deceived by the serpent and then desiring the fruit.) James goes on to say that our desires will lead us into disobedience (sin) and that our sin leads to death (think Romans 6:23 – the wages of sin is death.)

James doesn’t leave us there in the dip. He reminds us of God’s grace and that God is the giver of every good gift and every perfect gift. God desires for us to have life and have it abundantly.