James 1
James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
Television commercials do NOT make anyone do anything. They do not MAKE anyone's mouth water. They appeal to already-existing conditions in the human flesh/soul and those possessing susceptible desires or lusts get dragged away and enticed by those lusts, not the commercial. That commercial is long gone by the time a person turns of the tv, grabs their keys, gets in their car, drives to the convenience store or bar, grabs/orders a drink, and drinks it.
Possibly, but the lesser of two evils is still evil. Our minds can rationalize away any obstacle and justify any sin. It goes all the way back to Eden.
Genesis 3:12
The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate."
Blame God. Blame someone else. They are the reason wrong was done. It's not my fault.
John 3:18-21
He who believes in him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the verdict, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.
No one wants their thoughts or deeds to be seen for what they are. It's the human condition. It goes all the way back to Eden, but that is not an excuse for acquiescence. Isn't best to pursue excellence? Walk in the light and you'll see God is at work in your life. Seeing God at work in our life is a pretty cool gig
. No, it's not easy. Do it anyway.
And brother (or sister) I know what I'm talking about. Not only have I got all the Jesus stuff going for me
, but there isn't a drug I haven't used often and in larger quantities. I lost ten years of my life in addiction, got saved, went to college, became a professional counselor, did my internship in a residential drug treatment program and have helped dozens recover from that particular form of violent self-abuse. If you lay claim to the name of Christ, then you are an adopted son of The Most High God, privileged with all the power, authority, and inheritance of God's own Son, a royal priest chosen by God Himself to be a member of His holy nation, indwelt with His own Spirit.
You can overcome the flesh and resist the devil, putting out every one of the latter's fiery schemes in Christ.
Act like it.
Especially when temptation comes knocking because the problem is first and foremost within, not outside. Remember that parable about the servants who discovered weeds had been sown among the wheat (Mt. 13:24-30)? The wheat comes to harvest. Growing up as wheat in a world full of weeds will not kill you. It is part of the process. When you get to the end you can ask God why He made it that way. Until then, get to work being wheat and not a weed
.
Ephesians 2:4-10
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
You and I were created in Christ
for good works.
Get busy.
What are the 3 white poisons?
