“Face Your Trials But Shun Temptations!”

“Face Your Trials But Shun Temptations!”(Jam.1:12-18).
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”
Trial and temptation are two words from the text above that require definition as most often they are used interchangeably as if they are synonyms.
Biblically “a trial is an adversity you are experiencing that tests your faith.” All things being equal, “trials, troubles, and adversities are experienced by all believers.” Paul and Barnabas strengthened and encouraged the believers in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch to remain true to the faith with these words: “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God “(Acts 14:22).
Meanwhile, temptation means “to entice or try to entice (someone) to do something that they find attractive but know to be wrong or unwise.”
Temptation has three stages, which are well exemplified in the story of the Fall in Genesis: Desire, sin, and death.
“I’m sorry. It was the work of the devil,” is common on the lips of those who pretend to be remorseful. We cannot transfer our actions to the devil because they backfire to our shame and disgrace. Besides, such words are a reflection of a “shame culture” rather than a “guilt conscience!”
Here lies the problem: “Is something punished because it is evil, or is it evil because it is punished?” If we take the route of the second part, we may become comfortable that “a thief who is not caught is king.”
On the contrary, sin is sin, whether seen or unseen!
God is the originator of every good and perfect gift. God is the Unchanged Changer who remains perfect for all times. He is a Spring that brings forth only sweet, drinkable water.
He rebirths us through his word of truth so that we become new creations in Christ Jesus through whom reconciles us to himself.
Dear friend, like Job, let us accept trials as a way of spiritual strengthening, but flee temptation by killing your desires that are motivated by our desires for looking at vanities!
Prayer: Holy Spirit, turn my eyes from looking at vanity and give me life in God’s ways. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
11/03/2025.