We must know that every temptation cannot be attributed to the devil. We must know that every illegal, illicit, ill advised, irrelevant and indecent thing we do cannot be blamed on our DNA, our parents, our families, our cultures or our socioeconomic status.
We have gotten to a point that we would want to blame anything or anyone else as long as we don't have to blame ourselves.
It is our desires that "drag" us away and "entice" us to do wrong, and we repeatedly give in to them. This is when temptation is "conceived" and what comes after conception? Birth...and what is birthed is now real life sin! This sin then grows like a cancer affecting our lively hood, our careers, our families and our relationships. Ultimately the result of sin is death.
Sin is sneaky! At first, it seems to bring peace, happiness and fun. Then we begin to really yearn for the sin. That yearning then leads us to need the sin, and ultimately, the sin owns us. This is true in all kinds of sinfulness, from lying to cheating, from drinking to drugs, from adultery to fornication; the cancerous process of death that is released when we give in to sin is real and it is truly deadly.
"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 NIV)
But there is GOOD NEWS...
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that The Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12 NIV)
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