Devotion for Thursday, May 26, 2022

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone” (James 1:13).

Evil cannot use good for evil, but good can use evil for good.  Why?  Because evil is a perversion of good.  God creates.  Evil cannot create, but only pervert what is good.  God calls us to righteousness.  God created us good and Adam chose to listen to the serpent and pervert the good given him for his own use.  God does not tempt, but we are tempted.  God is never tempted, for He alone is good.

Why then am I tempted, Lord?  You ask, but you do not receive because you ask with wrong motive.  But you said to ask you to not lead us into temptation.  What will it take for me to gain your attention?  Must the Lord get out of the way so you too can be a prodigal child?  The Lord loves you enough to accept you as a lost child you but coming to Him must always be an act from the freedom of your will.

Jesus, You taught us to pray so that we would not be led into temptation.  Here, Your Word says God is not tempted.  Help me to meditate upon these things so that I would learn wisdom and understand the truth.  Guide me according to Your goodness to see that in You is all hope and that You, my Lord and God, are alone good all the time.  Help me to see this clearly and live in the freedom You give to love as I have been loved.  Amen.