Does God Tempt us with Evil?

Two verses from the book of James, Chapter 1, caught my attention today.

13Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one. James 1:13 Amplified Bible

17Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse]. James 1:17 Amplified Bible

Did you notice that it's not God tempting us with evil? God is good and he gives us good gifts. Place this in the context of Chapter 1 and you will readily see that it refers to trials and temptations that believers face.

Chapter 1 goes on to describe the trials and tests as trials that prove our faith.

In other words, they are designed to prove (or test) our faith -- to call into question what we believe about God or what He has promised us.

Now did God send these trials? We have just seen that He dosen't tempt anyone with evil. We have just seen that he dosen't waver in being good. And if God is the author of our faith, why would He then do something to subsequently undermine His work? No the Bible clearly identifies who is at work here:

19While anyone is hearing the Word of the kingdom and does not grasp and comprehend it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the roadside. Mathew 13:19 Amplified Bible

So Jesus sows the word in hearts, but the evil one works to snatch it away.

But once faith is born in the believer's heart, God equips the believer with a spiritual force that effects endurance and steadfastness and patience to establish us in our the faith.

3Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

4But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. James 1:3-4 Amplified Bible (emphasis in italics placed by me)

Notice the phrases 'bring out' and 'let' when refering to endurance and steadfastness and patience. Those phrases denote an active force apart from your will power!'

Endurance and steadfastness and patience' here actually comes from the greek word hupomone. The root word for hupomone is hupomeno, meaning cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy -- enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).

So this spiritual force empowers us to be CONSTANT and UNWAVERING -- in endurance and steadfastness and patience -- in our our belief in what God has already shown us!

Did you hear Him encourage you lately? Did you feel His love for you? Was that love communicated by His wonderful prescence in your heart? Were you reminded that you were the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, even when you failed?

That my friend is the spiritual force that strengthens you to be steadfast in youur faith! That is the Holy Spirit living in your heart today empowering you to be constant in believing His promises in the face of adversity.

26But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me. John 15:26 Amplified Bible

So whenever you face a trial that makes you doubt that God loves you, or that His promises are true, just know it didn't come from your Heavnly Father.

Instead, listen to His voice on the inside of you that assures you that you are indeed a prisoner of hope, a recipient of righteousness and an heir of all the promises of God in Christ Jesus.