Text: James 3:14-18

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.   15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.   16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.   17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.   18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.  

Wednesday, 31^st January 2024

THE SNARE OF EVIL THOUGHTS

Text: James 3 14-18

Memory verse: Matthew 9: 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

Thoughts are only thoughts, who is to be held accountable for them? They are clouds blown about by illusion, taking various shapes. God is not so hard as to judge us for our thoughts; He will try us by what we have done, not by what we have dreamed. No garden is without weeds; there are tares in every corn field.

Who speaks thus? Is it those who are responsible and careful to drive away evil thoughts? Or those who allow their heads and hearts to be hives in which they dwell? If you allow that evil thoughts enter your mind, and you ensure that they do no harm if they are admitted into the heart. Do you agree that it is impossible to keep the mind so closed against evil that no bad thoughts find its way into it? There is no sin in the bad thoughts coming, but the sin begins when they are allowed to settle, and to fly-blow the heart. Evil thoughts are traps set by Satan to bring us down from our heights. If you indulge in evil thoughts of all kinds and make no effort to banish them. I tell you that it is a dangerous thing. If they rely on being safe so long as they keep their bodies from evil and allow their minds and hearts to revel in evil thoughts, they are guilty of sin; they may not be staining their bodies, but they are corrupting their souls.

We read from the bible that: “Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say unto you, that whosoever looked on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” S. John Chrysostom said, “Men’s souls are not so greatly injured by the temptations which assault them from outside, as from those evil thoughts which poison them within.” There may be evil thoughts of many kinds, envious thoughts, discontented thoughts, wicked thoughts, unkind thoughts, angry thoughts, materialistic thoughts, impure thoughts. All these thoughts come murmuring about in the head and heart, and will settle to do harm, unless driven away. They are only little thoughts. Each is very small, but altogether they are a great host. They are like flies. James wrote: “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there”.  James is talking about wisdom that is sensual and demonic, which results in confusion. Since God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), where does it originate? It is one of Satan’s techniques to confuse and undermine the activities of mankind. James’ advice? Follow “the wisdom that is from above” instead.

CGDS HYMN 53: SS&S 873: 

YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION, FOR YIELDING IS SIN

1. Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin,

Each victory will help you some other to win;

Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue,

Look ever to Jesus, He'll carry you through.

Refrain

Ask the Saviour to help you,

Comfort, strengthen, and keep you.

He is willing to aid you,

He will carry you through.

2. Shun evil companions, bad language disdain,

God's name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain:

Be thoughtful and earnest, kind-hearted and true.

Look ever to Jesus, He'll carry you through.

3. To him that overcometh God giveth a crown.

Through faith we shall conquer,

though often cast down.

He who is our Saviour our strength will renew.

Look ever to Jesus, He'll carry you through.

 Prayers  

1.  Lord Jesus, help us to guide our hearts and thoughts with all diligence, because out of it are the issues of life.

2.  LORD God Almighty, purge us from the inside out by the blood of Jesus, Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.