When I Saw...

Daily Reading: James 3-4

Scripture Focus: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4.7-8)

Devotional Thought: The simplest – yet probably most ignored – advice to enable us to overcome temptation and sin is found in James 4: Resist the devil’s temptations and draw upon the Lord’s strength.  If we are not careful, we find ourselves drawing near to temptation and resisting the warnings of the Holy Spirit.  When we are confronted by sin, it is not unlike driving past a car wreck.  You don’t really want to look, but it's hard not to! 

When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, and began liberating the land with the battle of Jericho, they were told that the spoils of that battle were all to be devoted to the Lord: “Keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things…” (Joshua 6.18).  However, one man – a soldier by the name of Achan – brought judgment upon the Israelites, by doing just that.  He did not keep himself from the devoted things.  Instead, he kept a devoted thing for himself. 

After he was found out, Achan confessed as to why he did it: “When I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak... I coveted” (Joshua 7.21).  The word “saw” in that verse means more than just noticing, or perceiving.  It means to look at, inspect, and consider.  In other words, Achan spent some time considering it and then he coveted it.  It was hidden in his heart long before it was hidden in his tent.

When we are confronted by temptation, the most effective means of resistance is to turn away from the temptation and to turn toward Jesus!  He is so "attractive", we will covet only him.

Prayer: Father in heaven, lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.  Grant that I would find a way to escape every temptation to sin.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 45.1-7

1 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.

3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty!

4 In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!

5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you.

6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;

7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;