Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. James 1:13-15
When I sin and let God or others down, I try to make excuses in my mind. One excuse not available to me is that God somehow ‘set me up’ to fail. God is not associated with evil. He is not tempted by it. He doesn’t tempt anyone with it. So, how do we end up doing evil? Something inside us desires (lusts) what we think we want or need. We forget that God has given us everything we really need. We pursue it in our minds, with our energy, and we do it. The result is sin which causes a death of relationship, and if unforgiven, causes a separation from the very God who loves us.
Am I an excuse maker? Or have I discovered that I can go the other way of repentance?
God, as this day begins- there are some wonderful moments You’ve scripted and works to accomplish. May I find them and walk in them. Guard me from my own desires and evil, so that I might fulfill Your will today. I want to live without excuses.
