Count it all Joy...

One of my favorite books of the Bible is James, and that is where I read this morning in my devotions. What I read really encouraged me and I wanted to share it with you.

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James 1:2-4

Sometimes I wonder why God allows us to be tempted as much as we are, but reading this I found that, when we are tempted and we overcome it, it strengthens us and our faith. It's not easy to resist temptation but when you do it makes you stronger.
Another important point made in chapter 1 is in verses 12-14.

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed."

First God says that the man that endureth temptation is blessed, and then he tells us that temptation is never of Him, but of our own lusts. So God cannot be tempted, nor does he tempt us. In Matthew 4:3 & 1Thessalonians 3:5 the devil is called the tempter, and he certainly does tempt us, but I think that more often than not, it is our own lusts that tempt us (James 1:14-15)
I want to clarify one more thing. I know that for a very long time I believed that temptation was bad, but it's not, it's only bad when we give in to it. Temptation makes us stronger in our faith, and helps us to grow in patience. And God promises us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that he will always make a way for us to escape from temptation, that we will be able to bear it!

So, something I need to remember is... "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations..." :)