Endure Temptation, Receive the Crown of Life

God Created the World

God Creates, Humans Sin

James 1:12-15 The Message

12 Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.
13-15 Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood and becomes a real killer.

For Reflection

After accomplishing one's march across the checkerboard, one would say proudly, "CROWN ME!"  You might even gloat a bit and tease your opponent.


But life is not a challenge between you and God. Life is not a zero-sum game where you lose because God wins or God loses because you have bested God. God does not place barriers in your path toward living a good life. God is not "The Holy Gotcha," lying in wait for you to sin so that God can punish you.

We ride on the sea of life in a boat of our own making. We make our own waves, gentle and caressing, or wild and destructive. God eases our voyage, calms the waters, and gets us safely to shore. So rest in the swells of stormy seas with the confidence that Jesus is in the boat with you and all will work out just fine.

Pray

Pray so that you will find peace in stormy times. Pray so that you will realize God is with you. Pray so that you will not only survive the perils of living but find rest and peace knowing that God will help you find hope in tomorrow.

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