“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” – James 1:13-15

Never claim, “The devil made me do it” and never blame God for the sin in which you find yourself! The devil can’t make anyone do anything – he simply offers temptation. While God certainly permits trials in our lives, He doesn’t tempt us to sin. Honestly, we can’t even blame our friends, neighbors, coworkers, relatives, enemies, circumstances, or complete strangers for our sin. Sinning is completely our responsibility!

Note well the ”life cycle of sin” (or perhaps ”death cycle”)… We desire to sin. Even if we hate it, there’s something about it that appeals to us. Our desire lures and entices us. If we’re foolish, we flirt with it, dance with it, dwell on it, rationalize it, and justify it. If we aren’t quick to resist and willing to flee sinful desire, we permit the desire to grow and grow. We tell stories to ourselves about how it isn’t a big deal and how it doesn’t really hurt anyone. We question, like Satan in the Garden, whether God really said not to. We question God’s motives in saying not to.

Eventually, if we permit our mind to loiter on the desire, it conceives and gives birth to sin. We do whatever we desired. Perhaps it feels good for a moment. Perhaps we’re immediately ashamed or perhaps we aren’t. Nevertheless, sin doesn’t stop with sin. Sin’s ultimate purpose is death because sin inevitably leads to spiritual death. However, there’s hope! That hope is our Savior, Jesus Christ Who conquered sin and death on the cross. Jesus not only commands and empowers us to reject those sinful desires when they begin calling, He advocates for us if we fail and succumb to the temptation.

If you fall into sin, don’t stay there! Confess – agree with God that it was truly a vile and rebellious sin worthy of death and ask His forgiveness in Christ’s name. Repent – change your mind and commit to fight that temptation in the future. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” – Hebrews 13:5

In a world of tremendous insecurity and uncertainty, Christians have something that is completely, 100% certain and secure! It isn’t our bank balance, home equity, or jewelry collection. It’s our God! God is present with us and He’ll never abandon or reject us.

More precious that cash, stocks, bonds, gold, or jewels is the never-ending, never-failing love and presence of God for all who’ve accepted Jesus Christ as Lord. Most Christians will go through hard times in their life, some much harder than others. Deprivation and loss may affect our finances, mental or physical health, safety, stability, relationships and many other things in this fallen world. After all, there is an active evil force at work in this world named Satan and there are many who succumb to his temptations. Nonetheless, our external circumstances and our common enemy the Devil can’t change God or His love and zeal for us in Jesus Christ.

If you’re in Christ, you may feel alone, but you aren’t. God IS with you. You may feel abandoned by God, but you aren’t. God IS with you. You may feel rejected by God, but you aren’t. God IS with you. The cross of Jesus Christ proves this beyond a shadow of a doubt. God gave His Son for you and He isn’t about to leave you now!

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;” – Hebrews 12:14-15

Bitterness is a poison we choose to drink for ourselves (over and over and over). Bitterness spreads until it poisons our hearts, minds, souls, and relationships. While it often begins with a genuine wrong done to us, bitterness arises when we take that wrong and respond to it wrongly for an extended period of time. When we dwell too long on our hurt, loss, anger, and sorrow. What begins with so-called righteous indignation gradually hardens into toxic bitterness that can devastate our lives more than the original harm ever could.

We can’t control other people or how they act. Some will act sinfully, cruelly, selfishly, thoughtlessly, or evilly. However, we can control, and are ultimately responsible for, how we respond to others. Scripture is clear: because God didn’t dwell on our sinfulness, evil, and rebellion but instead gave His Son as a sacrifice to offer us forgiveness, peace, and reconciliation we’re called to do the same with the broken relationships in our lives.

We must apply the Gospel to our interpersonal relationships. We must strive for peace with everyone just as God strove for peace with us – at the cost of His Son. By the power of God’s Spirit, we must pursue the personal holiness that’s impossible when our minds are focused on our grievances, wounds, scars, and bitterness. We must display God’s grace toward others who don’t deserve it, just as we don’t. We must release our anger, frustration, hurt, and disappointment to the Lord before it hardens into a root of bitterness that ultimately poisons us. Christian, don’t drink that poison!!!

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6

Faith is the key! We can’t earn our way into God’s presence. We can’t discipline our way into God’s presence. We can’t accomplish our way into God’s presence. We can’t give our way into God’s presence. We can’t deserve to enter God’s presence. We believe and in God’s grace, He welcomes us into His presence!

However, we must be clear: it isn’t some generic faith that pleases God! It isn’t some vague faith in a higher power that brings us near to God. It isn’t faith in any god that God rewards. It’s faith in the One True Living God of the Universe. It’s faith in Him as He is: 3-in-1, eternally Triune, Father-Son-Spirit. It’s faith that God exists, that God is holy, that God is just, that God punishes sin, and that God graciously offers forgiveness for our sins exclusively through faith in Jesus Christ, His Son Who died and rose from the dead.

Do you desire to please God? Believe in Christ! Would you like to draw near to God? Believe in Christ and know that genuine belief in Jesus results in a life devoted to following Jesus and becoming like Jesus. Would you like to be rewarded by God? Take up your cross daily, deny yourself, and follow Jesus!

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” – Hebrews 10:24-25

On this day in which we honor and give thanks for all those who’ve faithfully served this nation in uniform, the Bible provides a timely reminder of the importance of in person presence and encouragement. The times are evil and the Day of the Lord is approaching – we must gather and encourage one another.

Our culture has long tended toward isolation. That can be particularly true for those who’ve experienced the rigors, traumas, disruptions, and unique challenges of military service. What was previously true became radically worse during the past 20 months. Too many have become too isolated for too long! Humans were not meant to live in isolation, even if we’re drawn to it. Christians must vigorously resist the trend toward self-isolation.

Make every effort to meet with others, for their sake and yours. Gather in person and offer abundant encouragement in the Lord to all whom you meet. Resist the lure of personal isolationism, for these days are dark in themselves and are yet darker still for many because of the struggles, hurts, traumas, and losses of their past and present. Never assume you understand what’s going on inside a person’s heart. Rather, be persistently encouraging. Stir one another up to love and good works, and do so all the more as you see the Day of the Lord drawing near!