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40 DAYS OF LENT: DAY #2
WORD OF TODAY: James 1:14-15 (ESV)
14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
THOUGHTS ON THE WORD:
Today we are reminded that we all have a nature that is selfish. We all want to be our own gods and rule over our own kingdoms. This is the stained desire of every person’s nature. In our reading the translators use the word “lured”, which brings to mind how one fishes. The fisherman uses a lure to catch the fish. Satan uses a lure to tempt us to yield within our own nature and be hooked into sin, reeling in the wayward soul into the depths of eternal sorrow and despair. This is a good time to consider for a moment what lure Satan uses to entice you to “bite”. Is it money, power, authority, control, lust, fame, or some other shiny object of desire?
St. James reminds us that once sin is grown, there is only one result-death. What sin has been birthed into your life by the desires of your broken nature? Consider how that sin is fed, and by what means it is able to grow. How will you deny the sin it’s sustenance today?
As you walk today, by what means will you use to identify the lure of Satan that is tempting you to be hooked by your desire? What pleasurable desire might you surrender today? What gift might you give today? What fruit will be born of your heart’s desire today?