Temptation

Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him. No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity, it gives birth to death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters: all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. (James 1:12-18)

What is desire?  Envy leading to temptation to satisfy that desire, whatever it might be.  Therein lies the danger due to the presence of evil that lures and entices us. We are tempted to deadly sin that may be mortal.  

We may be tempted to abandon God – to give up on our belief in a heavenly Father who is love, perhaps because it often seems that love is in short supply throughout the world where hate, anger, and war prevail.  

Giving up can happen when all about us seem to be against us or Job-like troubles befall us. Blessed are we who persevere in that temptation.  Despite the compelling reason(s), we must hold fast to our belief highlighted by James that we will receive the crown of life promised to us who love God.  

Let’s not deceive ourselves – beloved brothers and sisters – all good giving and every perfect gift should come from us as well as from above.  That happens when we refuse to be led into temptation and we deliver ourselves from evil.  It’s our choice whether to be the word of truth and a kind of first fruit of his creatures – or not.

Deacon David Pierce