James 1:12-18 (Passion Translation)

If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life’s difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! True happiness comes as you pass the test with faith, and receive the victorious crown of life promised to every lover of God! When you are tempted don’t ever say, “God is tempting me,” for God is incapable of being tempted by evil and he is never the source of temptation. Instead it is each person’s own desires and thoughts that drag them into evil and lure them away into darkness. Evil desires give birth to evil actions. And when sin is fully mature it can murder you! So my friends, don’t be fooled by your own desires! Every gift God freely gives us is good and perfect, streaming down from the Father of lights, who shines from the heavens with no hidden shadow or darkness and is never subject to change. God was delighted to give us birth by the truth of his infallible Word so that we would fulfill his chosen destiny for us and become the favorite ones out of all his creation! 

 

Reflection

When I was around eight or nine years old, my best friend and I went to the grocery store with my dad. While we were at the store, my friend decided he wanted to steal some candy out of one of the bins. We both debated it for a few minutes, then ultimately decided to steal a few small pieces of candy. Elated, we thought we just pulled off the greatest heist known in the history of the world. However, a few hours later my friend actually decided to call his parents to come and pick him up from my house instead of staying the night. He felt so guilty from stealing the candy that he felt like he had to confess to his parents to wipe his slate clean. Ultimately, this then led to my parents finding out that we stole candy from the store, which then led to a not-so-great result of getting a stern talking to and grounding from my dad. During that conversation with my dad I got to learn two things: that stealing was something we should never do, and that he still loved me.

 

This passage is teaching us the reality that God gives us the ability to choose what we want to do and how we act. There is such tender care involved in giving us free will. However, with that tender care also comes the truth that we won’t always make the best decisions and choices. There is a consequence to our actions when we engage in sin. This passage makes that painstakingly clear. But what this passage also informs us is that these sinful decisions and choices are born out of our own desires, not God’s. It can be a harsh reality having to face the consequences of those actions, but we don’t face them alone.

 

God does not leave us in a place of brokenness, pain, and suffering when we make poor decisions. God’s head does not shake back and forth from the Heavens with disapproval and embarrassment. Rather, God makes the choice to be as close to us as possible. I love that this passage states that, “We would become the favorite ones of all his creation!” Being “the favorite one” means that you are God’s favorite. No if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. This even includes the times where you are tempted to make or have made bad decisions! What a lavish gift of grace and love! 

 

Know that God does not hate you. God never has and never will. Even in moments of temptation or poor choices, God still sees you as a wonderful child. This temptation comes not from God, but from the enemy whose only desire is to steal, kill, and destroy. Let this portion from the passage sink deep into your soul:

 

“Every gift God freely gives us is good and perfect, streaming down from the Father of lights, who shines from the heavens with no hidden shadow or darkness and is never subject to change.”

 

You are not alone. God is for you. And God has all that you could ever need. You are God’s great treasure. 

 

Prayer:

Father of lights, thank you for never abandoning me, even when I make decisions that cause me to wander away from the lavish grace you have poured out onto me. Help me to know how close you are to me, even when the enemy tries to make me believe that I am not. Jesus, remind us of the truth of our sonship and daughtership that I have through your precious blood. Let me receive the gift of being your child today. I love you, Abba. Amen.