Contemplative Bible Reading

James 1:14 (New Living Translation)

14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

“The devil made me do it” used to be an oft-stated phrase. I recall a comedian from the 1970s said that a lot for laughs. Ancient history. This verse from James, however, seems to place the source of temptation elsewhere.

Here it is, the end the age-old search. The source of temptation is…myself. Oh, uh, well, that was boring. Surely there is something wrong with the translation. I mean temptation causes so many of us to go so wrong. Surely there is more to it than this. Wrong.

I tempt myself. Gosh. I cause myself to stray. I cannot blame it on anyone else or anything else. Just me.

Yet, God stays with me. God forgives me and welcomes me. That is the grace of God. I don’t understand how that all works. It definitely doesn’t make any sense, but I am thankful it is there. Thank you God. Please help me in my unbelief.