James 1:14-15, New Living Translation

“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

I pray that the eyes of our heart and understanding will be open today as we meet together for a brief time. It’s a precious thing to have the Holy Spirit to quicken your spirit with what you need to know or understand to move forward in your life. Maybe that phrase “quicken” may be a little deceiving, because sometimes it doesn’t happen so quickly. Or perhaps we aren’t paying attention, because we are lost in our own thoughts of how things should be going. I am guilty of this just as much as anyone. But my dear brothers and sisters, I pray that our hearts will be open to the Lord, for Him to do a beautiful work in us.

It is truly the mercy of God to reveal the things in us that need work. He doesn’t leave us alone to figure things out or to leave us just as we are. He brings the correction that is needed because He loves us, and He sees the full beauty and potential of who He created us to be. He wants us to live in that, to fulfill that! As we have already learned, we do not despise the correction of the Lord.

This week, as I was waiting for the Holy Spirit to lead me to scripture, I felt that he led me to James 1:14-15 (NLT). James says this, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” You may be wondering how this scripture has to do with correction. In my understanding, given to me by the Holy Spirit, it has everything to do with correction.  

Temptation comes just as easily as breathing. We don’t even think about it; it just seems to happen. I want to open myself up to vulnerability here with you, because there should be no shame in admitting where you need help. Jesus didn’t come to save the saved– or heal the healthy. He came to save the lost and to heal the hurt. 

This week, the Holy Spirit has revealed, in my own self, anger and bitterness.  I never really thought of myself as an angry person or a bitter person, but I believe these attributes can hide themselves well to where you can’t see it, and perhaps the people closest to you cannot see it. “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” (Ephesians 2:4-5, NLT) God loves us so much that He will reveal these things to us to help us to overcome them. He pours His mercy out when we don’t even deserve it. But it isn’t about whether or not we deserve it. It’s all about love. He loves us! Even though He loves us, in a moment of weakness, we can be tempted, I can be tempted to fall back into my desires…like breathing air…and I could choose anger and bitterness instead of God’s truth, His mercy, His grace.

In Genesis 4:6-7 (NLT) God approaches Cain. He says, “’Why are you so angry?’ the Lord asked Cain. ‘Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.’”

We must take responsibility for our part of the problem, just as God instructed Cain to subdue and be the master over his sin. If we continue to read, we know that Cain fell to temptation, to sin, and he murdered his brother because he was jealous and angry.

In sharing my vulnerabilities with you, I am wanting to encourage us to be more like the tax collector that Jesus shares about in Luke 18:9-14 (NLT). Bear with me, I know this is a little long, but the lesson is so good and so important for us to feed into our spirit!  

“Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: ‘Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: “I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.” But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.” I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’”

This scripture we just read came from the very mouth of Christ, our Savior. He wants us to humble ourselves before Him. If we do this, we will be exalted. He will help us in our time of need. In my anger and bitterness, I have learned that I need to forgive. There is more to it than just forgiveness. I am not sure what this looks like. But I know that if He is faithful to reveal to me my anger and bitterness, He will be faithful to show me a solution to what I am searching for. What is the Holy Spirit revealing to you at this moment? Continue to thank God for His grace and His mercy. Continue to seek Him. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter and Counselor that Jesus promised to us. He will help us to find our way and to glorify God through all our circumstances, whether they be good or bad.

I thank God for the good work He is doing in you, and the good work that He is doing in me. I pray that as we open our hearts to the Lord, we will be complete and lack nothing. May the favor and blessing of the Lord rest upon you as you continue to seek Him.