December 9 - The Conceive of Desire and Birth of Sin

December 9 - The Conceive of Desire and Birth of Sin

 

“Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” – James 1:15

 

We are to classify hard things in their lives as ''joyful'' because those ordeals help us develop a deeper trust in God. Christians who trust God also seek wisdom from Him, not from ungodly sources. We continue to trust Him through difficult experiences, in part to receive the crown of life promised to those who don't stop. We don't blame Him for our desire to sin, but we do credit Him for every good thing in our lives.

 

In the previous verse, James clarified that the temptation to sin always comes from within ourselves. It's never God's fault. No matter how terrible our circumstances are, the desire to sin is still ours. We are tempting ourselves to sin. God provides trials and ordeals as a way to "exercise" our faith to make it stronger. The lure of giving up, sinning, and defying God is not the purpose of His will.

Here, James warns us of the consequence of giving in to our desire, which is falling into sin. When we say "yes" to the desire to do what we want, sin is born instead of trusting God and obeying Him. Then sin grows up and produces death. Sin always leads to death. For those who are not in Christ—who have not accepted God's gift of forgiveness of sin, who have not been born again to a new life—that death is permanent and eternal. But even for Christians, sin brings deadly consequences. Later in this letter, James will write that when Christians succeed in turning each other back from sin, they save each other from death (James 5:19–20).

 

According to the Apostle James, there are four stages of committing sins. “But each one is tempted when, by his evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15). The first stage is desire. Whenever we act on evil desires, sin enters into our lives. The second stage is the temptation to sin. Satan is the source of all sins. Satan knows our strengths and weaknesses well; he can choose the most effective way to tempt us. The third stage is desire, which gives birth to sin. As the Holy Spirit in us produces good, evil desire produces sin. Sin cannot make our lives beautiful. To make it worse, sin breaks our lives and makes us losers. The fourth stage ends in death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD” (Romans 6:23). Therefore, temptation from our desires forces us to sin and eventually brings death. 

 

God taught us how to beat temptation. That is, anyone who endures temptation is the winner who will receive the crown of life that God promised. Practically, James 1:2-4 and 1 Corinthians 10:13 give us detailed instructions for enduring temptation. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). 

 

From these verses, we can find three lessons. First, temptation, which is given to us, is also given to other people. Second, God is faithful; therefore, we have to trust him. Third, God makes us win over any temptation. We have to depend on God. Instead of living according to our desire and lust, we have to live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We must fix our eyes on Jesus Christ and believe in His power and wisdom. Then, He will lead us to be victors in our spiritual battles. 

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray that your family and friends will be given extra patience, wisdom, and strength as they deal with adversities. Ask that these challenges will mature their faith. 

Prayer Pointer: Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church and a goodly Christian weapon. – Martin Luther

Bible Reading: Hosea 1-4; Jude

 

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12월 9일 - 육망의 임태와 죄의 출산

 

“욕심이 잉태한 즉 죄를 낳고 죄가 장성한 즉 사망을 낳느니라” - 약 1:15

 

우리가 시련을 기쁘게 받아들여야 하는 이유는 시련이 하나님을 더 의지하도록 만들고 믿음 증진에 도움이 되기 때문입니다. 하나님을 의지하는 믿는 자들은 경건치 않은 데서 지혜를 구하지 않고 하나님이 주시는 지혜를 구합니다. 우리는 어려운 시련을 통해 계속 하나님을 신뢰하는 법을 배우며 약속된 생명의 면류관을 얻기 위해 더욱 하나님을 의지합니다. 믿는 자들은 범죄의 욕망에 대해 하나님을 탓하지 않고 모든 선한 일을 위해 하나님을 신뢰합니다.

 

야고보는 죄의 유혹은 항상 우리 안에서 있다고 말합니다(약 1:14). 죄의 욕망은 하나님의 잘못이 아니며 상황이 아무리 어렵더라고 죄의 욕망은 여전히 우리가 가지는 것입니다. 우리가  범죄하도록 자신을 유혹하고 하나님은 더 강한 믿음을 갖도록 우리의 시련을 주십니다. 우리가 범죄하며 하나님을 거역하는 시험을 받는 것은 하나님의 뜻이 아닙니다.  .

야고보는 죄에 빠져 욕망에 굴복하는 결과에 대해 우리에게 경고합니다. 우리가 원하는 것을 하려는 욕망에 예라고 하면 하나님을 신뢰하고 순종하는 대신 죄가 태어납니다. 그러면 죄가 성장해서 사망을 낳게 되고 죄는 항상 죽음으로 이어집니다. 그리스도 안에 있지 않은 자들, 즉 죄 사함의 은혜를 받지 못한 자들은 사람들, 새로운 삶으로 거듭나지 않은 사람들에게는 영원한 사망이 있습니다. 그러나 범죄는 믿는 자들에게도 치명적인 결과를 가져옵니다. 이 서신의 후반부에서 야고보는 그리스도인들이 서로를 죄에서 돌이키는데 성공할 때 서로를 죽음에서 구원한다고 기록하고 있습니다(약 5:19-20).

 

사도 야고보는 죄를 짓는 과정에는 네 단계가 있다고 말합니다. “오직 각 사람이 시험을 받는 것은 자기 욕심에 끌려 미혹됨이니 욕심이 잉태한 즉 죄를 낳고 죄가 장성한 즉 사망을 낳느니라”(약 1:14-15). 첫 단계는 자기 마음의 욕심입니다. 마음의 욕심대로 행하면 범죄의 길에 들어서게 됩니다. 둘째 단계는 죄의 유혹입니다. 사단은 범죄하도록 미끼를 놓고 유혹합니다. 우리의 장점과 약점을 잘 아는 사단은 유혹에 빠질 수 있는 가장 효과적인 방법을 알고 그 방법을 사용합니다. 셋째 단계는 욕심이 잉태 하여 죄를 낳습니다. 성령의 인도함을 받으면 선을 이루듯이 악한 욕심을 따르면 범죄하게 됩니다. 죄는 삶을 아름답게 하지 못하고 점차 파괴 시키고 실패자로 만듭니다. 넷째 단계는 사망을 가져옵니다. “죄의 삯은 사망이요 하나님의 은사는 그리스도 예수 우리 주 안에 있는 영생이니라”(롬 6:23). 욕심으로 시작한 유혹은 범죄하게 하고 사망에 이르게 합니다. 

 

하나님께서는 시험을 이기는 방법을 가르쳐 주시고 시험을 잘 참고 이기는 자는 약속대로 생명의 면류관을 얻는다고 말씀합니다. 특별히 야고서(1:2-4)와 고린도전서(10:13)에 시험을 이기는 구체적인 교훈을 찾아 볼 수 있습니다.“사람이 감당할 시험 밖에는 너희에게 당한 것이 없나니 오직 하나님은 미쁘사 너희가 감당치 못할 시험 당함을 허락지 아니하시고 시험 당할 즈음에 또한 피할 길을 내사 너희로 능히 감당하게 하시느니라”(고전 10:13). 

 

이 말씀에는 세 가지 교훈이 있습니다. 첫째, 신자들이 당하는 시험은 다른 신자들도 당하는  시험입니다. 둘째, 시험 당할 때 오직 하나님을 의지해야 합니다. 셋째, 하나님은 어떤 시험 이든지 이기게 하십니다. 신자는 육신의 정욕을 쫒지 않고 오직 하나님을 의지하며 성령의 인도함을 받아야 합니다. 우리의 눈과 마음을 예수 그리스도께로 고정하고 하나님이 주시는 능력과 지혜로 살아가야 합니다. 이러한 삶에서  하나님은 모든 시험에서 승리하게 하십니다. 

 

 

오늘의 기도: 당신의 가족과 친구들이 어려운 일을 만날 때 더 많은 인내와 지혜와 힘을 얻도록 기도하고, 이러한 문제들을 통해서 믿음이 더욱 성숙해 지도록 기도하십시오. 

기도 지침: 기도는 교회의 강력한 성벽과 요새이다. 기도는 그리스도인의 경건한 무기이다. 마르틴 루터

성경 읽기: 호세아 1-4장; 유다서