James 1:14-15 NLT
1. Temptation comes from our own desires
-meaning I'm tempted by what I desire. I don't desire a cigarette, hence smoking isn't tempting to me, wine isn't desirable to me, hence drinking isn't tempting to me. However love is desirable to me, therefore lust is tempting to me, a good life is desirable to me, therefore money is tempting to me, desire for respect tempts me to be proud. So essentially all my temptations play on MY desires.
Buddha said that a man without desire cannot be tempted. He says it's the path to enlightenment. But the Dalai Lama desires the liberation of Tibet (RZ). So can we be truly without desire...we all desire something...
Extinguishing desire is not the answer. I desire heaven, I don't want to extinguish that. So desire is okay..but then what's the catch?
The devil is trying to take a legitimate desire of mine and twist it around so that I achieve it using sinful ways. He's trying to get me to focus on the end result and not the journey.
Mahatma Gandhi said the means must justify the ends. That is why he never supported violence. He didn't believe an India freed by violent means should have a good end.
So check your desires, they are the root cause for your temptations. You either desire the world and you are tempted or you desire heaven and you cannot be tempted by things in this realm.
All this reminds me of the verse
Matthew 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
2.which entice us and drag us away.
-Sometimes we get carried away by these desires without thinking too much on the means and consequences. We want what we desire NOW and at ANY COST. No wonder we are called the generation with a 30cm foresight ( the distance between your phone and your eyes)
3.These desires give birth to sinful actions.
-We start indulging in all evil methods to achieve our goals in minimum time. Any shortcut is welcome. Here is a bribe. Please sign my papers. I can't wait till I'm married. Let me pleasure my self now. I want money now, let me borrow without asking :/
4.And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
- no sooner have we done the deed that we realize we have sinned and the wages of sin is death.
The devil tricked us again
1. Temptation comes from our own desires
-meaning I'm tempted by what I desire. I don't desire a cigarette, hence smoking isn't tempting to me, wine isn't desirable to me, hence drinking isn't tempting to me. However love is desirable to me, therefore lust is tempting to me, a good life is desirable to me, therefore money is tempting to me, desire for respect tempts me to be proud. So essentially all my temptations play on MY desires.
Buddha said that a man without desire cannot be tempted. He says it's the path to enlightenment. But the Dalai Lama desires the liberation of Tibet (RZ). So can we be truly without desire...we all desire something...
Extinguishing desire is not the answer. I desire heaven, I don't want to extinguish that. So desire is okay..but then what's the catch?
The devil is trying to take a legitimate desire of mine and twist it around so that I achieve it using sinful ways. He's trying to get me to focus on the end result and not the journey.
Mahatma Gandhi said the means must justify the ends. That is why he never supported violence. He didn't believe an India freed by violent means should have a good end.
So check your desires, they are the root cause for your temptations. You either desire the world and you are tempted or you desire heaven and you cannot be tempted by things in this realm.
All this reminds me of the verse
Matthew 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
2.which entice us and drag us away.
-Sometimes we get carried away by these desires without thinking too much on the means and consequences. We want what we desire NOW and at ANY COST. No wonder we are called the generation with a 30cm foresight ( the distance between your phone and your eyes)
3.These desires give birth to sinful actions.
-We start indulging in all evil methods to achieve our goals in minimum time. Any shortcut is welcome. Here is a bribe. Please sign my papers. I can't wait till I'm married. Let me pleasure my self now. I want money now, let me borrow without asking :/
4.And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
- no sooner have we done the deed that we realize we have sinned and the wages of sin is death.
The devil tricked us again