Ideas



James 1:12-15
12Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
13Let 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.
14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

James speaks to two different sources of trial for us. Back in verse 2 he points to those trials that come from without; those events that happen to us unexpectedly and without our input. Now in verse 12 James speaks of those trials we subject ourselves to because the desires of our sinful flesh always have an idea.

Have you ever worked with (or raised as a parent, like I did) a person who always has a plan? They are the idea people. They come up with a project, a trip, a game . . . you name it. Then they try and get everyone else to buy into their plan. They explain why the idea is a good one and then lay out the steps that will need to be taken to accomplish said plan. Usually they are very enthusiastic and can be quite crushed if you don’t get on board their “idea train.” Idea people are great (you know who you are!) and we need them. But they can be persistent and sometimes annoying! Not all of their ideas are fantastic.

Your sinful flesh can be your internal “idea guy”. (Granted, some of our ideas are great ones and are not born out of our flesh. So I’m not saying all “ideas” are sin here.) This internal idea guy can be the source of trials that are of our own making. And they are a struggle. Those internal battles are very real and sometimes we win, but sometimes we lose as well. We fall into the sin that the “idea guy” suggests, following the path of desire - sin - death, as laid out by James. We face this internal trial and succumb. James is very clear. God is not the originator of these ideas, for He would never do that to us. No, these ideas come from within.

God’s Word always provides a path for our victory over these temptations. Two verses come immediately come to mind as weapons in this struggle.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

2 Corinthians 10:5
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

God is there with us in the struggle. He provides a way out for us and is there to strengthen us for that fight. We also have the power (with the help of the Holy Spirit) to snatch those sinful thoughts before they ever have a chance to bloom in something that is destructive. I know – it sounds easy but it’s not. But it is possible! God has provided a way for us remains steadfast under trial. Your “idea guy” can be dealt with in the Lord. Will you still sometimes fail? Yup. That’s why Jesus had to die for those sins. You are a forgiven, struggling, redeemed child of the Most High God. It’s a dichotomy we live with every day.

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