So James 1:14-15 identifies our main source of trouble, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown brings forth death.” A major source of trouble comes from within me! I’m blown away by the analogy here.
1. Desire is conceived = Child is conceived
[So it grows unseen to all except God. All along its alive and growing for 9 months! The first step toward problems is when unchecked desires are allowed to roam around in our heart and minds for a long while. As a result, our hear is “drawn away” from closeness to God or from obedience to Him. Check out Hebrews 2:1 and Psalm 119:9-11!]
2. Desire gives birth to sin = Child is born
[A baby doesn’t just appear over night from the stork. Likewise, sin doesn’t just spring on us. Just like a child that’s born and makes its presence known, desire in our heart will produce acts of sin in our lives.]
3. Full grown sin produces death = Full grown child
[A child is considered full grown by the age of 18 or older. In short, only after years of growth. Likewise, if sin is allowed to grow and be alive in our lives for periods of years, it will kill the things in our lives we hold most dear: relationships, spiritual vitality, jobs, joy, etc. We become entangled and ensnared by sin (Heb 12:1).]
So what can we do to keep these things in check? I’m drawn to these verses:
Matt 26:41, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Hebrews 2:1, “We must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.”
Luke 21:34, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with…the cares of this life.”
Psalm 119:9-11, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word….let me not wander from Your commandments. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
Hebrews 12:2-3, “looking to Jesus….and considering Him lest we become discouraged and weary in our souls.”
1 John 2:14, “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.”
I definitely know that God’s desire is for us to overcome and not be overtaken in our daily lives.
I like what is said in Romans 7:16 “Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever your choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.”
This verse tells us that living in a sin or living for God, is our choice. Sin does not just happen to us, it is something that we choose, so we must make wise choices if we want to protect ourselves and our families.