Hi friend! Welcome to episode 13 of Tending Your Soul Podcast. I’m Mariel and I’m so glad you are joining me today in the garden today. I hope you are enjoying our time in the book of James as much as I am! This gem of a book offers such a wealth of wisdom for us in this tangled world. Maybe like me, you need to tether your heart to truth and find stability when things are so unstable in our world. Thankfully James offers that for us.
So as we look at these next verses in James using the TEND method, let’s begin with T for take time to pray.
Father, we thank you for your word and the stability it offers our tangled souls. We are desperate for your peace. Would you tether our hearts to your word today as we lean in to listen as you speak? Amen.
After we take time to pray we want to examine the scripture. Today we are looking at the next verses James 1:14-15. These 2 verses are a continuing thought from the verses we looked at in episode 12, so if you haven’t heard that episode, I encourage you to do so.
James 1:14-15 says,
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when fully grown brings forth death.
We see in the previous verses that God is not the source of temptation for us, and we see here that the actual source of temptation is our own desires. We also see as we examine these verses that our desire leads to sin and sin leads to death.
Sin is anything that is apart or in rebellion of God. Anything opposed to God. We sin when we act in a way that is not honoring to God or to others. But we also sin when we think in a way not honoring to God or if we speak or even have motives that are opposed to God. Pride, anger, bitterness, selfishness, greed all can be fueling desires that lead us to sin and then that sin leads to death.
It could be death of a relationship, death of a dream, death of intimacy or vulnerability. Since we are born sinners by nature, then our only way to live is by our desires and thus in sin and thus leading to death. We are bound for death which is separation from God.
BUT GOD. The exact reason God sent His son to die for us on the cross was to pay the penalty for our sin by HIS death and thus those who place their faith in Him will have eternal LIFE.
In these verses the word for desire used in the original language is a word referring to passionate longing and an eagerness for passion built on strong feelings.
Pondering this leads me to our next step in TEND which is Notice the lesson.
When we let our feelings, our strong fleshly feeling be the guide, then we will be led to sin, which will ultimately lead us to death. But when I lean into intimacy with Jesus and let the truth of His word lead me, then it will lead to life and intimacy and healing.
John 17:3 teaches us that eternal life is knowing God. If life is knowing God then the opposite is true, not knowing God is death.
So in order to respond to this lesson and Do what it says, I turn it into a question and ask myself then, How can I know God better?
I also notice the lesson here that we are to line our desires up to God’s desires. Rather than being led by my desires, I want to be lead by God’s desires. So then what are God’s desires?
As I considered what might be God’s desires, I came to verses like 1 Timothy 2:4, He desires all to know Him and come to salvation. And the desires of the godly in Scripture include a desire for heaven as in Hebrews 11:16 and a desire for god’s Word over gold in Psalm 19:10.
So then how can I line up my desires with God’s desires? I need to let my sin soaked heart spend time in the Word of God. I need to allow the truth of the Word to soak like water into a sponge into my heart and mind so that what comes forth is based on the same desires as Christ.
What about you, how are you seeking to let God’s desires become your own, friend? Let’s expose our hearts to Him and let His sprit heal us in such a way that He gives us the desires of our hearts. As the psalmist penned in psalm 37:4, we must delight ourselves in the Lord and he will then give us the desires of our heart.
Lord, would you heal my heart that my desires would fall in line with your desires? I pray, Lord, that my desires would lead to life and intimacy with you not sin and death apart from you. Quicken my heart to be sensitive to your leading and your spirit. In Jesus name. amen
I invite you to go to keep tending your soul by getting your free downloadable guide, Tools for Tending your Soul, on my website marieldavenport.com/start. This simple guide will help you cultivate a deeper walk with Jesus through His Word.
Also if you desire to keep tending your soul throughout the week, You may want to get your own copy of the Tending by the Word Journal available now on Amazon.
And until next time, keep tending your soul by the Word.
