God does not want us ignorant of the process of sin. He shows us how, like a fisherman, the devil offers us the bait and how it connects with desires in our own hearts. God has clearly explained this process of sin so we can avoid being ensnared. But would you recognize it, if it was happening to you? Or could you be nibbling on some temptation designed just for you? And could he be about to reel you in?
Today’s Readings:
Ezekiel 37 & 38
Psalm 132.1-9
Proverbs 29.4
James 4.1-17
Our Desires & the Process of Sin
James 4.1-17:
The Process of Sin
As I said a couple of days ago, there is so much in the book of James and this chapter is no exception. Verses 1-4 coupled with chapter 1.13-15 give us great insights into the process of sin in our lives. It shows us, in particular, how the devil takes advantage of our own desires. He offers us things that look good, bait if you will, though too often we don’t realize there’s a hook in them.
But, often, Satan doesn’t have to work that hard to draw us in because the right bait only intensifies the desires that are already in our hearts. Let’s look closer at the process:
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? (4.1).
We often point outside of ourselves to other people and circumstances as the reasons for our conflicts and other sins. But James clearly tells us they come from our own sinful desires. We might say, “We do what we do because we want what we want.” The process of sin doesn’t begin outside of us. The root problem is within us!
When Good Desires Go Bad
Sometimes those desires are not inherently sinful. Perhaps you want your husband to be a godly leader (or your wife to show respect) or your children to be obedient. Or maybe you want a spouse and don’t understand why the right person hasn’t come along.
Maybe you just want a little break from the stress of everyday living. Or a good job. Or a dozen other things.
The problem is, if not kept in their proper place in our hearts, even good things can become ruling desires, what the Bible calls lusts. And when we’re willing to sin to get them or sin because we don’t have them, the process of sin is underway.
It’s underway when we’re willing to nag our husbands into submission to our desires. It’s underway when we yell and get sinfully angry with our children. The process of sin is, also, underway when we start dating unbelievers, have premarital sex, or otherwise compromise our walks with God to get a spouse.
When that desire is ruling our hearts, James said we fight and quarrel. We sin with our words (quarreling) and we sin with our actions (fighting). So, even when we pray, we find our desires frustrated. Or as James said:
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Blaming God
Sometimes we even attempt to put the blame on God for our sinful behavior. “I prayed and prayed for God to help me (deliver me, remove this sinful desire, give me what I want, etc.), but He just hasn’t.” Chapter 1.13-15:
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
So, let’s take a closer look at the source of temptation.
The Root of Our Temptation
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Verse 14 uses the fishing analogy I alluded to above. James explains that each of us is lured or enticed by our own desires just as a fish is enticed to “take the bait.” And like the fish, we often fail to believe the bait has a hook in it! Once we take the bait we are “drawn away” or we might say, reeled in.
Next James uses a birth analogy: “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
First, there is the sinful desire. We start thinking about that man or woman at work. We justify it by saying, “There’s no harm in it. I’m not going to do anything about it!” Pretty soon we start telling ourselves things like, “Well, if my spouse paid more attention to me …,” “He makes me feel desirable,” “At least she respects me,” or a million other variations of the lie.
The desire has been conceived. It’s not full-grown yet, but it’s taking shape in the womb of our sinful hearts. And when it’s full-grown it gives birth to sin. If we don’t stop it in its tracks, it will be followed by death: guilt, fear, anxiety, embarrassment, humiliation, destruction, and even divorce! The process of sin has played itself out.
Of course, sexual immorality is not the only area where sin can entice us. It might be just one drink, lying to make ourselves look better, cheating, gossiping, or a million other things.
Repent & Go God’s Way
God included these passages in His Word to reveal the process of sin and the danger of allowing our desires to become ruling desires, things we want too much, so we can recognize and avoid them.
If you’re already nibbling the devil’s bait or if you recognize that some desire has become a ruling desire, that is you’ve been willing to sin to get it or sinning because you don’t have it, repent. Ask forgiveness from God and others and pray for His help. Then make it your goal to please Him no matter what the circumstances.
Today’s Other Readings:
Ezekiel 37 & 38:
Dry Bones & Resurrection Life
In chapter 37 Ezekiel sees a vision of a valley filled with dry bones. God tells him He is going to bring the dry bones back together, cover them with flesh, and breathe His Spirit into them.
The dry bones represent the Israelites who had been dispersed among other nations. God promised He would restore them to their land and breathe new life into them by giving them His Holy Spirit.
God also brings resurrection life to our sinful, dry lives. He redeems our pasts, restores where there is death and devastation, and breathes life into marriages and relationships that have fallen into disrepair.
Gog and Magog
Finally, in chapter 38, God begins to speak to Gog and Magog, a powerful nation and its ruler, who would come against the Jews with great numbers of people after they had been restored to their land. According to Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible, this probably took place sometime shortly after their return from captivity.
Even though God was assuring His people that they would be restored, He didn’t want them to believe they could expect complete rest from trials and tribulations in this life. Jesus told His disciples and us much the same thing:
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (Matt. 16.33).
Yet Future Fulfillment
While Ezekiel 38 had a near-future fulfillment, it also speaks of a time that is still to come. Revelation 20:
7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
As I understand the end times, after the millennial reign of Christ, Satan will be loosed briefly once more, so that those people who were born during the millennium will have a chance to either accept or reject Christ. Afterward, when he attempts to come against God’s people, he and his followers will be destroyed and cast into the lake of fire.
Just as He did in Ezekiel’s time, God will sometimes use our enemies to test and strengthen us, but we can be sure He will give us the grace we need, so we can respond in a godly way (Heb. 4.16; 1 Cor. 10.13). And in the process, we will mature and become more like Christ (Rom. 8.28-29; Jas. 1.2-4).
Psalm 132.1-9:
Praying for Our Pastors
Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness (v. 9).
What a great prayer to pray for our pastors and Christian leaders, that God would protect them and grow them in His righteousness.
Proverbs 29.4:
The Importance of Righteous Leaders
The king establishes the land by justice, but he who receives bribes overthrows it.
A leader who seeks justice and righteousness brings stability to a nation, but one who seeks his own agenda or his own gain can bring a nation to disaster.
Your Thoughts:
How has God spoken to you today? Perhaps you saw a passage in a new light or an area where you need to grow and change. Did you find a truth to remember? I consider every comment a gift so I would love to hear from you.
Coming Up:
In the next few days, we’ll discuss the question, “Are you “profiting” from your reading and study of the Bible?” We’ll also talk about how the Bible’s admonition about bad company applies to friends, counselors, and influencers, and about how to respond to an unreasonable spouse.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our new sister site Joyful Marriage Ministries. While you’re there, click the “events” tab for information on our upcoming events and ministries, like our Marriage ICU© for couples who are experiencing problems that require one-on-one help.
If this post spoke to you, I would so appreciate it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.
And if you don’t already have a copy, you might want to purchase a copy of my eBook, 10 Benefits of Keeping a Spiritual Journal. It’s available on Kindle or in paperback. The paperback book has 31 days of blank journaling pages and prompts to help you get started.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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