Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Listen to the Word
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15)
You’d have to be an extremely foolish fisherman to put some bait on your hook, then take a look at it and say, “Mmm, that looks delicious,” and then swallow it down, hook and all. But James says that is exactly what we do when it comes to temptation. We bait our own hook. We let our own evil desire drag us away. The big problem is that, deep down, we intensely desire the wrong stuff.
If you struggle with alcoholism, the root of the problem is not in the bottle – it is in your heart. If you are hooked on pornography, the source of your sin is not on a website – it is in your heart. If you wrestle with anger, the cause is not in the people who receive your wrath – it is in your heart.
Live the Word
The problem is in your heart, so that’s where the cure is needed. Ask God to change your heart, helping you to desire what he desires for you.