July 25

Read: James 1:12-15

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him (James 1:12).

Only Yielding Is Sin

“We cannot prevent Satan from ringing our doorbell, but we do not need to invite him in to dinner.” In dealing with the problem of temptation in the sanctified life Dr. H. Orton Wiley points out in Christian Theology that “no temptation or evil suggestion becomes sin… until it is tolerated or cherished by the mind.” In terms of conscious experience this means that no momentary desire for the wrong is to be considered an evidence of carnality. Furthermore the temptations of the sanctified may be prolonged. I may experience repeated suggestions of evil arising out of normal human nature or from direct satanic attack. James reminds us that God’s blessings are for the man who endures temptation — not the man who never faces it.

God’s Word tells us, “Then desire [any wrong desire] when it has conceived gives birth to sin” (v. 15, R.S.V.). When does a wrong desire conceive? When does it really come to life, and become an occasion of sin in me? Only when I yield in my heart of hearts; only when I reach the point that I would carry out the evil suggestion if opportunity made it possible.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation” — because as long as he is enduring he has not yielded. No inner sin is present unless I tolerate and encourage the thought of evil. As long as I am resisting I know that my heart is right toward God and that there is no spirit within me that is contrary to His will.

I’ll yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin. Each vict’ry will help me some other to win. I’ll fight faithfully onward, dark passions subdue. I’ll look ever to Jesus; He’ll carry me through.

— H. R. Palmer (slightly adapted)