Join us as we read the scriptures and a daily devotion written by Don Crisp. We pray these messages will bless us all at this time.
Wed 10th June – James 1:12-15
Categories: Don’s Daily Devotions
Wed 10th June – Read James 1:12-15
V12: Those who do remain “steadfast under trial” ( and prove the reality of their faith) will know the Lord’s blessing, not only here and now but with the ultimate and eternal glory that waits for them. He uses the image of “the crown of life”, God’s promised and sure gift to all who love Him – (which is to say, those who know HIS LOVE in Christ.) Compare Paul in 2 Timothy 4:8.
V13: Yet trials can tempt us to doubt. James then asks, where does such – or any – temptation come from? Never think it is from God – He tests us, but will never tempt us, for He has no evil in Him. We know, of course, that the source of temptation is Satan. Since God is all sovereign, there is a mystery here, but God is good, When we are told to pray ” Lead us not into temptation” we are really praying to be lead away from temptation, kept by the power of God.
V14: And even as believers, we know all too well that, as James warns us here, our weakness, the wrong desires that we still have ( and need to battle against ) open us up to temptation.
V15: And to give way is sin ( Remember, it is not a sin to be tempted, but to yield to it.) And ” the wages of sin” is death ( Romans 6:23 )- but complete the verse. In Christ, our sins are answered for and forgiven – nevertheless, James is warning of the utter seriousness of sin.