In James 1:13-17
The Apostle James reveals something we have a tendency to ignore. He said "God cannot be tempted with/by evil, and He will never tempt anyone of us with it...". The apostle goes on to show you and I how temptation comes "But we are tempted when we are led astray by our own desires and enticed". Afterwards he describes what happens to us as a result of the straying.
I used to think God liked to allow satan tempt me, but I got a bit of shock when I read 1Thessalonians 4:3-6 "God wants me/you to be holy and to stay away from sexual sins. He wants me/you to learn how to control our own bodies (desires) in a way that is both honorable, and holy..." I was thinking about this...
I realize that God did not tempt Adam in the garden of Eden. God only permitted the devil who must have asked to tempt them. God planted all the good things He had in mind, and created Adam and Eve. God also gave Adam desires, as He gave Eve. God allowed Adam and Eve to eat anything they liked (even fruit from the tree of Life) but He gave them a special warning. "You o Man, must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and of evil, for the day you do this, you will surely die". Now think about it, does God not have the right to tell us what to do and what not to do? well we know the follow up to that story.
See Part II for more on "my reflections about temptation (tomorrow)
