A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (September 6, 2018)
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12)
We live in a world that is full of temptations. If you have never been tempted then you live in a different world than me. The critical question is, where do these temptations come from? What is their source?
Some religions attribute everything that happens to God. Let’s take a look at the Word of God and see if that is really true.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:13-17)
The Amplified Bible says it like this: Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God” [for temptation does not originate from God, but from our own flaws]; for God cannot be tempted by [what is] evil, and He Himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion). Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death. Do not be misled, my beloved brothers and sisters. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].
Do not err or be misled, my beloved brothers and sisters. That statement by James is very important!!! That means we can attribute actions of the enemy to God and believe me the enemy loves it when we do that. It is vitally important for all of us to know the heart of God and know that it is not God that is playing temptation games with us to see how we will react.
The best way you can know the heart of God is to spend time with Him in prayer, and in reading His Word. When you first met your wife, did you really know her? Absolutely not!! It took time and a lot of personal contact. If someone came up to me now (after 51 years of marriage) and told me that my wife was out getting drunk I would immediately know that was a lie because I know her. If someone comes up to you and tells you that God tempts people, or is putting sickness on people to test them, you need to know Him well enough to know that is a lie from the enemy and immediately reject it.
This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. (1 John 1:5, NLT)
