it always looks better than it really is...

we are looking here in the book of james in the new testament at how temptation works.

the first step is desire.  desire.  it’s an inside job.  james 1.14a (niv), each one is tempted when, by his own evil desires  the second step is deception.  deception.  james 1.14b (niv), he is dragged away and enticed...

now james uses a couple of terms from the sports world.  the phrase, dragged away is a hunter’s term which literally means “snared in a trap.”  enticed is a fisherman’s term which means  “lured by bait.”  the secret of fishing is in the bait, the right kind of bait for the right kind of fish. 

now, how many fish will you catch with a bare hook?  you’ve got to put bait on it and the right kind of bait for the right kind of fish.

what kind of bait does the devil use on you?  he’s got your hot button.  he knows your weakness.  he knows you inside and out.  he knows what turns you on.  he knows what you will fall for.  he hides the hook in his bait and the bait appeals to your weakness.

now the crazy thing is that often we see the hook and we know it’s a temptation but we keep right on nibbling.  some people will say to me, “bill, back off.  i know what i am doing. i’m an adult.  i’m not going to get hurt.  i know how far to go.”  and that person is deceived.  they’ve gone to step two – from desire to deception.

it always starts with desire.  then satan moves to deception.  temptation always looks better than it really is. 

just a thought from the front porch...