“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.”
James 1:13
Self-control starts with self-responsibility. I appreciate the feedback that I get from folks in messages or comments. Greg Barnes read the Day 18 post about self-control with the Krispy Kreme illustration and Greg sent me this: “Reminds me of the guy trying to lose weight. He drove past a donut shop every day going to work. One day he prayed, ‘Lord, if you want me to get donuts this morning, provide a parking space for me?’ There was a parking spot right in front...and it only took 3 drives around the block.”
There are many times people feel “led by the Lord” when really they are being led by themselves. They are being led by their own selfishness or their own lusts and/or desires. They may try to attribute it to God, but it is them. And that’s what James 1:13 warns against. Don’t put the responsibility and blame for temptation where it doesn’t belong, and it especially doesn’t belong on/with God.
God in His perfect holy nature is not tempted by evil. If you know God, as James is reminding the brethren of here, then you know he is not tempted by evil and is not evil. “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.” (Titus 1:15-16) Our sinful deeds deny Him who is sinless. In the grace of our Lord as disciples of Jesus Christ may we affirm our knowing God through self-control and abstaining from sin.
Trying to place the blame on God for our sins has been a human evil from the beginning of time. Like the parking space “provided by the Lord” in the introductory parable, Adam decried, “The woman whom you gave to be with me…” (Genesis 3:12) was the shift in blame and responsibility that has been exemplary to mankind ever since. We are responsible for our own sins, and if we truly know God, we know He is responsible for our salvation in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:1-10)
If you truly know God, then you know He doesn’t know you if you are not practicing His will rather than lawlessness. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' (Mathew 7:21-23)
Let us recognize who God is. Not just profess to know Him, but know Him. May our attitude, choices, and actions demonstrate that we know Him. May we not blame Him for our temptation, our own lusts, and desires that lead us away, but instead blame Him for salvation. That we do not have to perish in our sinful choices. May we recognize He is a great God! He is our God! And that He delivers us to temptation but delivers us from temptation. May God help us to overcome ourselves. Our self-deceived, foolish, and faulty ways. Our selfish self-flesh lusts and desires. And our lack of personal responsibility and accountability. Lord, help us!
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