When Wrong Looks Right

James 1:12-15

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

Have you ever had that moment when you see something you really want and suddenly everything in the world seems to disappear except that one thing? You see it, you desire it, and you plan on how to get it. Now desire in itself isn't a bad thing, for God gives us desires for many things; it's a natural part of human nature. But when our desire is coupled with our sinful heart, desires can produce lust and covetousness, which is wanting something you can't have biblically or wanting something for the wrong reason. 


In James 1:12-17, it speaks of how all temptations we face are from our own natural desires. When those desires arise it is so easy to start thinking about them, wanting them, coveting them, justifying them, planning on how to get them, and then taking them sinfully. But it doesn't have to work like that, for we have a good and gracious God who desires that we live for His name and His glory. In v.17, James writes on how every good and perfect gift is from God. Our great God provides all our needs and often provides many of our wants, but sometimes He provides what we don't expect. At times, God may let adversity and trying times come into our life in order to shape and refine us to become more like Himself. Though it may be painful, we can also take joy in knowing that He loves us so much that He would individually craft out circumstances in our life in order to mature and perfect our faith. God is never to blame for our sin, for His nature is good. Fault then must rest on us, but God's goodness and grace for the fallen sinner can cleanse us from all our sin! 

Follow after God, Deny Temptation, Be Saved from Your Own Sinful Nature, Live in God.