James: Trials and Temptations

Continuing our series on the book of James, in James 1:12-15 we learn about trials and tests, how these tests can become a temptation to sin, and how prone we are to blame God and others in these temptations. Our present trials have both a present and future benefit to those who love God, ultimately proving our faith and increasing our joy. In these trials, we will face the temptation to sin, but we must recognize its source and its course. Temptation never comes from God—God tests but He never tempts—but rather from our sinful desires. These sinful desires create sin in our live, and apart from Christ these sins create death. To avoid temptation, we can prepare and act by fleeing from the sin, resisting the sin, or looking to God for escape.