James (W2D2) Don't Take The Bait

Week 2. Tuesday: Don’t Take The Bait

PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word.

READ: James 1:14

14 but each person is lured and enticed by their own desire.

UNDERSTAND: get a deeper understanding of the key words

• Each/own. Everyone is tempted in a different way. Something that is a temptation for others may not be a temptation for you. Each of us have our own temptations to battle.

• Lured. A fishing term. It means to be drawn out of cover or protection. To be lured by something that looks appealing.

• Enticed. Means to bait or to be caught by a bait. Fishermen use a lure to draw fish out of the safety and protection of cover and entice them to take the bait. Lures always have a hook. Once hooked a fish is never the same.

• Desire. Lust. Craving. Longing. It is our desire to chase after the things God says is wrong or dangerous or unhealthy that gets us in the most trouble.

APPLY: What is this passage calling me to do?

Have you ever been tempted to lie, cheat, steal, compromise your health by how you eat, hurt those you love, be lazy, continue a bad habit, get offended or hold grudges, ignore people that matter, put off doing what's important, or to misuse sex?

Think for a few minutes about your personal temptations. Be specific.

What are some of the lures that are most attractive to you? Are there some things or people or places or habits you feel have the potential to hook you?

Further study: Take a look back at Genesis 3. What are some verses that prove that people have been lured and enticed by their own desire since the very beginning?

PRAY: Pray today for God to protect you and help you identify the areas where you are most tempted.