First Friday of Lent
March 2, 2009
March 2, 2009
Today’s Reading: James 1:13-16
Many people will always say when they do something they are not to do, “The devil made me do it.” WE will allow this type of thinking because it seems better than the idea of saying that God tempted me. In the time of James, the thoughts must have been a little different. James is telling the people of his time that God does not tempt people. I have not heard many people today who would say that God is tempting them. They might say (and I have heard many people say this) that God is testing me. This is a real interpretation. When we read the opening of Job, it would seem to point to God allowing Satan to test Job’s faith. Now, I do not want this post to become a discussion of Job.
Yes, this section does raise the issue of evil and its place at the very least in our personal lives. James answer to evil is that it comes from the fall. When we humans decided that God’s direction and living in His presence was not what we wanted, we opened the gates to be pulled in the wrong direction. It is the fall of people that has brought about much of the suffering. People have chosen paths that do not bring the best for all involved, especially we.
James’ desire is not to cast off our responsibility. Instead, we must own up to our own mistakes. We must admit when we have failed and when we have fallen short. The sooner we are ready to take responsibility for our actions and see that God must be in control, the sooner of relationship with God will strengthen.
Tomorrow’s Reading: James 1:17-20
Yes, this section does raise the issue of evil and its place at the very least in our personal lives. James answer to evil is that it comes from the fall. When we humans decided that God’s direction and living in His presence was not what we wanted, we opened the gates to be pulled in the wrong direction. It is the fall of people that has brought about much of the suffering. People have chosen paths that do not bring the best for all involved, especially we.
James’ desire is not to cast off our responsibility. Instead, we must own up to our own mistakes. We must admit when we have failed and when we have fallen short. The sooner we are ready to take responsibility for our actions and see that God must be in control, the sooner of relationship with God will strengthen.
Tomorrow’s Reading: James 1:17-20
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