Why Am I Tempted? Part 1
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20
Did you know that temptations begat more temptations not less, no matter if you succeed or fail? A failed temptation only leads to the degradation of future temptations. Success in the wiles of temptations, or victory over our vices may bring us new levels. But new levels only bring new devils. Thus, I have learned that success breeds more difficult temptations and failure breeds more harmful temptations. Its a never ending cycle. It would be nice if God saw our battles and gave us a break, wouldnt it?
Wouldnt it be nice if a victory over temptation could add up to less temptation? Sorry, cant happen! Maybe, if we could succeed more often, God would divide our temptations over time, giving us more rest from the wicked? No chance! How about periods of success with NO failure? Could that lead our longsuffering Lord to actually subtract from future temptations? Uh, uh! Temptations, no matter if we succeed or fail, will only multiply.
Even when we are trying harder to do better, we are unable to hinder the multiplication of temptation. The little train that thought it could was good motivation for climbing hills but bad advice for spiritual maturity.
But, when we fail, I have learned, God has people He uses to restore us into a renewed relationship with Him. Arent you glad that the Lord never gives up on us?
In James 5:19-20, we are introduced to one who desperately needs such mercy from His Maker, the Lord. It is someone who has erred from the truth. The word erred means wander. Lets meet a Christian who, as a result of a failed temptation, has wandered over yonder! These verses say, Brethren, if any of you do err (or, wander) from the truth, and one convert him (or, change his position); Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
We see in this passage, two persons being discussed. The one is the wandered brethren. He has erred from the truth, and strayed from the influence of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that this phrase, err from the truth, is a manifestation of somebody caught in a temptation. He has faced a level of devil too big for his current walk; thus, the tempted brethren erred from the TruthJesus.
The second person discussed is the one reaching out to convert the erred brethren. He invests in those who wander, that he may change their position from erring away from Jesus to returning to His position IN Jesus.
To convert somebody back to Christ, is to convince them to change their position from their selfish leading to being Spirit led once again, from wandering away from the truth to remaining IN the truth.
The person who invests in changing the position of a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death. Now, that could be referring to a premature physical death as a result of an error, but it always is referring to the subsequent spiritual death we experience when we lose fellowship with the Son in our spirit.
Did you know that temptations begat more temptations not less, no matter if you succeed or fail? A failed temptation only leads to the degradation of future temptations. Success in the wiles of temptations, or victory over our vices may bring us new levels. But new levels only bring new devils. Thus, I have learned that success breeds more difficult temptations and failure breeds more harmful temptations. Its a never ending cycle. It would be nice if God saw our battles and gave us a break, wouldnt it?
Wouldnt it be nice if a victory over temptation could add up to less temptation? Sorry, cant happen! Maybe, if we could succeed more often, God would divide our temptations over time, giving us more rest from the wicked? No chance! How about periods of success with NO failure? Could that lead our longsuffering Lord to actually subtract from future temptations? Uh, uh! Temptations, no matter if we succeed or fail, will only multiply.
Even when we are trying harder to do better, we are unable to hinder the multiplication of temptation. The little train that thought it could was good motivation for climbing hills but bad advice for spiritual maturity.
But, when we fail, I have learned, God has people He uses to restore us into a renewed relationship with Him. Arent you glad that the Lord never gives up on us?
In James 5:19-20, we are introduced to one who desperately needs such mercy from His Maker, the Lord. It is someone who has erred from the truth. The word erred means wander. Lets meet a Christian who, as a result of a failed temptation, has wandered over yonder! These verses say, Brethren, if any of you do err (or, wander) from the truth, and one convert him (or, change his position); Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
We see in this passage, two persons being discussed. The one is the wandered brethren. He has erred from the truth, and strayed from the influence of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that this phrase, err from the truth, is a manifestation of somebody caught in a temptation. He has faced a level of devil too big for his current walk; thus, the tempted brethren erred from the TruthJesus.
The second person discussed is the one reaching out to convert the erred brethren. He invests in those who wander, that he may change their position from erring away from Jesus to returning to His position IN Jesus.
To convert somebody back to Christ, is to convince them to change their position from their selfish leading to being Spirit led once again, from wandering away from the truth to remaining IN the truth.
The person who invests in changing the position of a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death. Now, that could be referring to a premature physical death as a result of an error, but it always is referring to the subsequent spiritual death we experience when we lose fellowship with the Son in our spirit.
