Scripture: James 1:14-16
Everyone is tempted by their own cravings; they are lured away and enticed by them. Once those cravings conceive, they give birth to sin; and when sin grows up, it gives birth to death. Don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.
Thought for the Day: Oh my, I think James hits it out of the park on this one. Without pointing fingers at other more dramatic examples, where can you name a craving that got out of control and led to some form of death in your life. For most of us, it isn’t a significant death, but a craving that led to a sinful act that caused an ending of a relationship or dream or some other thing of value. The internal craving justified it or made us blind to the potential ramifications, but in the end, there was a death of sorts. Some people will be quick with the line, “The devil made me do it!” In my opinion, that’s nothing more than the internal craving refusing to take responsibility. The devil for me is a personification of evil in the world, and though we may find ourselves caught in the systemic structures of evil that exist around us, there is usually an option to not be owned by the evil. In fact, pushing against the craving and the sin birthed from it is the power of the Spirit working within us. It is the ongoing work of a follower of Jesus, and though never done to perfection, we do so within the framework of God’s grace.
Prayer: We are constantly being pulled, both from the inside and the outside. Provide me with eyes that see and a spirit that perceives where it is that I might be pulled away from you, O Wonderful and Loving God. May I find the strength necessary to name the craving without giving it authority in my life. Amen.
BIG DAY TODAY
