Tempted by my fallen nature

James 1:12-15 NKJV

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. [13] Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. [14] But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. [15] Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

It starts with "the look", then "the desire", then "the action".

In the first fatal fall, Eve was encouraged to just look - that's the devil's lie.

Genesis 3:6 NKJV

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

There's no harm in looking - that lie has ensnared so many in the dark web of pornography.

The look creates desire, the desire for more and more of the same, like an addictive drug.

It's the same with every temptation we face.

The other day I watched as a butterfly was flitting from flower to flower tasting of the varied flavours of nectar. It was so engulfed in the attraction of the petals that it failed to notice the spider's transparent web.

Sadly it got caught and in trying to extracate itself became more entrapped. During the hapless struggle along came the dreaded spider ready to inject it's deadly poison.

Too much of a coward to do it myself, I summoned my nearest and dearest to the rescue. He did pull it free, but its delicate wings were plastered with the sticky web.

It did manage to fly, but it was too fatally damaged to survive and thrive again.

Temptations are like that - they befuddle our senses with bright shiny "treasures" only to ensnare and destroy us.

After being rescued by Jesus, we may never fly as high again.

David knew about this when he wrote Psalm 51.

He had been enticed by his own desires and drawn into ever increasing sin - from adultery to murder.

Psalm 51:1-4 NKJV

Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. [2] Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. [3] For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. [4] Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.

The forgiving, ever merciful Lord will forgive when we confess our sin, taking full responsibility for our own wrongs.

Now The Cross of Jesus is our only Hope to extracate us from the web of our sin.

Psalm 51:5-7,10 NKJV

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. [6] Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. [7] Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. [10] Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

That Psalm is Old Testament but the prayer stands for today in the New Covenant made in Jesus' Blood. His Blood is the sweet hyssop that scrubs us clean.