Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

Have you ever watched a child respond to a parent who has set a boundary and said no? Very often, a child will react with frustration and tears because they do not get their way. From their limited perspective, they can only see what they desire and not the consequences of their decision. Even as we grow, we struggle with this. We are enticed by sin, and we see what we want, but don’t recognize the toll it takes on our soul. James spelled out the consequences of sin that we often forget. When we only think in terms of desire, we don’t recognize the path sin will take us on to death, hurt, and pain. On the flip side, when we remember who God is and the goodness that comes from and through Him, we are given reason to pursue Him over anything else.

In Him, we gain perspective, not viewing things only to be gained for the present moment, but joy and purpose that will last forever in Him. As we grow in life, we can see the foolishness of our childhood tantrums, and we are often grateful to our parents for the way they guided us, even as we fought tooth and nail. Similarly, even as we feel present pain and frustration in resisting sin, God will bring about fruit that is far better than worldly desires.

• What are some things that sounded good to you but were not actually good? How do you combat temptation against the things you know are not good for you?
• Do you view God as a good gift-giver? Why or why not? How does this perspective of Him shape your relationship with Him?
• Pray and ask God to convict you of any sin leading to death in your life.