Tag Archives: ILMA BARAYUGA-DOHERTY

2 TIMOTHY 3 PLEASURE LOVERS

Posted on by

January 20

2 TIMOTHY

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. – 2 Timothy 3:1-7

2 TIMOTHY 3 PLEASURE LOVERS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Watch out for the times when the end is coming

There will be an abundance of pleasure lovers

Difficulties will be so rampant because of self love

Sins of greed, violence, rebellion are just to name a few

Other sins focus on arrogance, abuse, envy and adultery

There will be deceivers who will bring about idolatry

There will be those who will suppress the truth

They will spread false teachings and lie to destroy you.

Timothy prepares the believers for what they are going to experience during the last days. He enumerates the different sins that are signs of the end times. There will be an abundance of pleasure lovers. In other words, these people will only be concerned with satisfying their own cravings. They will do everything in their power to gain control of some sorts that they can satiate their desires and be supplied with ego boosting supply. Because of their obsession to fulfill their wants, they will not recognize the presence of God. They are too busy catering to feed their wants that they will be blind to what is spiritual. They only think of the earthly things they see and will fail to recognize the true calling they have that God planned for all humankind.

Not only do they love pleasures, but also money. They usually go hand in hand. Having riches usually means indulgences of the senses. Each person who seeks to have the pleasures in life will automatically crave to have enough money to sustain their lusts. Disobedience to parents is a norm in these end times. They will rule and overpower their parents since they lack understanding of the authority of God. They do not know the value of respect and honor that usually comes with acknowledging God and his laws. There will be countless crimes since each person would only care about what they want instead of showing love for one another. Can you imagine the chaos and confusion all these sins will bring about when that time is near?

But aren’t these signs present in our world today already? Isn’t there so much hatred, killings, manipulation, greed, power, conflicts, wars and too much self-indulgences in our society now?

REFLECTION

  • What was verse 7 referring to when Timothy said “always learning and never arriving at truth?”

2 CORINTHIANS 5 THE SINLESS CHRIST MADE TO BE SIN

Posted on by

January 19

2 CORINTHIANS 5

14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. –  2 Corinthian 5:14-21

2 CORINTHIANS 5 THE SINLESS CHRIST MADE TO BE SIN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Because God knew that man cannot save himself

He gave His only Son who knew no sin to be sin for all man

When Christ died on the cross, he fulfilled reconciling us with God

We no longer have to carry the sin that is where shame resides

The sinless Christ made to be sin has become our Mediator

He is the one who paved the way for God to grant salvation

All those who believe in him are welcome to his kingdom

While all those who reject him, will not experience freedom.

In this letter, Paul explains to the church in Corinth the importance of Christ’s death on the cross for all those who believe in him. Since they are now newly born in the Spirit, they no longer have to live for themselves but for Christ. Even though Paul wasn’t part of the twelve apostles whom Jesus chose when he was still alive, he is considered also to be an apostle also chosen by Christ to minister to the Gentiles. He was a Pharisee who persecuted believers until on the road to Damascus, Jesus showed himself and called him to stop persecuting him. Paul was converted from oppressor to a slave of righteousness.  No one else is good enough to give witness to unbelievers than Paul who used to be an executioner of Christians. This is how God uses anyone to save his people.  He is a testament to the power and control God has over anyone he desires to change. God can show his power to change a God-hater to a servant of the Lord. Who else can qualify to be the most suitable witness to the mercy of God?

He expounds to the Christians that they now have a new life where they are no longer the center of attention. He points to the value of the cross by letting them know how God gave the solution for the sins of mankind. He gave humanity the sinless Christ to be sin for us so we can reconcile with God through his Son Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. His blood allowed God’s wrath to melt and grant us mercy.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it hard to understand how the sinless Christ became sin for us?

JAMES 3 THE TONGUE: A RESTLESS EVIL

Posted on by

 January 18

JAMES 3

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

                                                                                        – James 3:5-12

JAMES 3 THE TONGUE: A RESTLESS EVIL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

A small part of our bodies is so powerful

When it speaks, it can set raging a small fire

Though it is very small in comparison to other parts

It is so mighty that it can bring about life or death

It is a part of the body that no human being can tame

One can train an animal or a beast, but not the tongue      

It is a restless evil full of deadly poison

It can bless, flatter or deceive anyone.

James gives us a clear origin of evil. He described it with vivid details that can bring chills to our spine. I love how honest James spotlights the source of many sins that we can commit just by this very small part of our body. The tongue can bless and build up but with that same tongue, it can also destroy and murder someone’s character.

In Mark 7:15, Jesus confronts the Pharisees and tells them this “There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And Jesus further says in verses 20- 23 in this same chapter that “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.  All these things come from within and they defile a person.” This is how James gives us a clear picture that the vehicle for all the sins mentioned in Mark 20-23 are all brought about by the tongue.

How many times have you criticized and belittled someone with your words? How about saying untrue things about someone else that you should have kept to yourself? Did you entice someone to take part in an evil plot using persuasive speech? What about spreading rumors about someone you envied? How many times have you lied to save your reputation or deceived someone so that you can look good to others? Do you now understand how the tongue is a restless evil full of deadly poison?

REFLECTION

·       Share some insights when you witnessed the power of the tongue. 

JAMES 5 CONFESS YOUR SINS TO ONE ANOTHER

Posted on by

January 17

JAME 5

12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. – James 5:12-16

JAMES 5 CONFESS YOUR SINS TO ONE ANOTHER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The body of Christ is a family of believers united in Him

We ought to confess to each other when we sin

By doing so, we account for each other’s spiritual growth

We show love for one another when we build each other up

This is how we truly manifest our love to our Father in heaven:

We confess our sins to each other as a sign of staying humble.

In this letter, James reminds the church to never make oaths or vows to another person or even to God. Why do you think James tells them that yes and no are the only answers they need to give out? In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus teaches them on the topic of oaths. He said 33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.Isn’t this an interesting topic? Don’t people like to say “maybe” or “I think” or “I don’t know” instead of a plain yes or no.We usually don’t think that anything other than yes or no comes from evil, do we? But Jesus explained it very clearly in his sermon in the mount about this.

James talks about the importance of praying fervently and also to go to the elders when they are sick to be anointed with oil. But the prayer of faith is the one that will heal the person with the illness. It just goes to show that not all physical illnesses are just in the body, but it may be because of sin. So, the act of going to be prayed over by those God has given authority over us, can actually heal those illnesses.

There is one more instruction that James gave the church that an unbeliever would cringe upon. He asked them to confess their sins to one another. By doing so, we remove the shame and hiding the sin and expose it to the light of truth. It also holds us accountable to each other to grow our faith in Christ.

REFLECTION

  •  Do you confess your sins to your sisters and brothers in Christ? Why or why not?

1 PETER 2 PASSIONS OF THE FLESH

Posted on by

January 16

1 PETER 2

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

                                                                                          – 1 Peter 2:1-3,11-12

1 PETER 2 PASSIONS OF THE FLESH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As a child of God, one must get rid of all hatred and envy

The children of the light do not lie or engage in treachery

If they cannot control the passions of their flesh

It will consume them and let in more wickedness

Let go of all the old nature and put on your new creation

Your body, soul and spirit belong to your Creator.

This letter of Peter was addressed to the Christians scattered around in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. These places have been impacted by Greco-Roman culture and had been under Roman control since the mid-first century B.C. The Greeks and the Romans were not believers and they believed many gods and being in a place where polytheistic religion is the norm, it would have been very hard for them. They were heavily persecuting the Christians at this time and were surrounded by paganism and corruption from the control of those who were in power that time.

Peter is writing to them so that they will be encouraged to endure suffering and persecution. He admonishes them to put away all kinds of impurities because they are already surrounded by much corruption. He reminded them of their newborn status which they received when they professed their faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. He encouraged them to focus on longing to seek for the truth that comes in the word of the Lord so that their sufferings and trials may be occasions for them to endure and grow their faith. Because they have witnessed Christ’s love for them, they were instructed to focus on those promises that God has given his covenant people.

He urged them to be sojourners and exiles, reminding them that they are on a journey to their heavenly father and that their earthly sufferings are their ticket to their salvation. He cautions them to watch out for the passions of their flesh which can cause them to have inner conflicts and compromise their loyalty to the Lord. Because of the persecutions surrounding them, he warns them to continue wearing their new nature in Christ so that the Gentiles will be able to see God’s goodness through their conduct. In other words, they were to conduct themselves in holiness and righteousness and put off their old nature.

REFLECTION

  • Cite examples of passions of the flesh that are rampant in our society now.

ROMANS 1 SINS BRING ABOUT A DEBASED MIND

Posted on by

January 15

ROMANS 1

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. – Romans 1:24-25,28-32

ROMANS 1 SINS BRING ABOUT A DEBASED MIND

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Whenever you do not take off your old nature

You will be automated to do what your flesh craves for

Your mind will be filled with covetousness and greed

You will find ways to satisfy such cravings and needs

As you continue sinning, you will develop a debased mind

It is a mind that does not retain anything that comes from God.

In the following verses, we hear the phrase “God gave them up”. It doesn’t mean that God’s has forsaken his people as he promised them. Notice that preceding this phrase are two sins that God hates. In verse 24, God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity and in verse 28, it was their debased mind to do what was not to be done. It is what they did that God was abandoning, not the person himself. God cannot tolerate sin because He is love. Sin is unloving acts. The Lord God cannot allow evil to continue when he knows that his children will suffer the consequences of their sins. But since God gave us a will to choose and decide what is good for us, he cannot force us to stop doing what we want that is hurting us. It is baffling when we confuse needs with wants and when we follow our sinful nature instead of listening to the Spirit’s guidance.

The aftermath of a believer who does not honor his own body or who constantly serves his lusts is that they become the thing they want. They do not see that their bodies are not their own, but God’s property, so they do with it what they want. Remember that we are the temple of God if we believe in Him. We will be adulterous and have loyalty to ourselves instead of to our Lord.

Another consequence of continually not acknowledging or honoring God is a debased mind. The Lord will not force them to choose the righteous path since he has already given his laws and his word to them. To continue to satisfy their desires and whims shows that they do not love the Lord and that will lead to loving themselves and all the things they love. In other words, God gave us a will to choose him, but will never force us to do so. His love for us is enough for us to honor, obey and love him back.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God gives up on his people on these two occasions in verses 24 and 28?

ROMANS 1 ON SUPPRESSING THE TRUTH

Posted on by

January 14

ROMANS 1

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. – Romans 1:18-23

ROMANS 1 ON SUPPRESSING THE TRUTH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

If you do not honor or thank the Lord

You will surely suppress the truth

Since the truth sets us free

Suppressing it will bond us to sin

Those who twist and pervert the truth

Will become futile, deceived and utter fools.

According to the ESV study bible, the wrath of God mentioned here by Paul refers to his personal anger against sin. God’s anger is his holy response to rejection of his love and law. Enduring.com defines ungodliness as man’s offenses against God and unrighteousness refers to the sins of man against man. Paul is addressing the Christians and the Gentiles in Rome in this letter. Paul writes this letter to a particular church in Rome. His letter applies the eternal truth of the gospel to their real-life concerns. Paul’s mission is to bring about the obedience of faith.

When we become followers of Christ, we are given the Holy Spirit so we can walk in love and in truth. Scriptures are truth and if we follow it, we would bear fruits of righteousness. Paul addresses those who are suppressors of truth in these following verses. Who is actually suppressing the truth? Apparently, the whole of humanity does. How do humans hinder truth? Throughout the history of mankind, both believers and unbelievers have somehow suppressed truth by fighting against it, disregarding it and deliberately concealing it. Because of the original sin, we automatically do not serve God but our own selves. By not following his commands, we are also guilty of suppressing truth. By not spreading God’s word, we are also hiding it. By twisting its meaning and making it our own, we are actually defying truth.

Verse 19 tells the Romans and also all of us believers that there is no reason for us not to know God because he has shown himself to all of mankind in his creation and within the mind and heart of man. So, there is no excuse for us not to acknowledge God or suppress his truth or God’s wrath is what we will eventually reap. We become foolish, futile and deceived.

REFLECTION

·       Share some insights on suppressors of truth and its aftermath on their lives.

HEBREWS 10 APOSTASY REAPS GOD’S WRATH

Posted on by

January 13

HEBREWS 10

26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. – Hebrews 10:26-31

HEBREWS 10 APOSTASY REAPS GOD’S WRATH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When we hear the gospel of truth and take it for granted

We are deliberately turning our back against the Lord

It is like trampling on the sacrifice that Jesus has done for us

It is mocking God’s grace and mercy given through his Son Jesus

Do you not know that apostasy will reap the wrath of God?

It is a rejection and a mockery of the love that he offers us.

According to sources apostasy comes from the Greek word “apostasia” which means departure, revolt or rebellion. It is willful falling away from the faith. It is a rejection of the beliefs that once they practiced and turning away from that belief. An apostate is someone who once believed in God and decided to reject him and all that he stands for. It is like a Christian turned into an atheist or into another religion that doesn’t acknowledge God. Adam is the first apostate. His disobedience to God’s prohibition of eating from the tree of knowledge clearly says that he is not trusting God’s instruction. He wanted more than what he was given.  It led him to rebel against the dominion given to him to rule the earth and all living creatures. Instead of exercising such authority, he handed it over to the serpent when he gave in to the temptation. Another example of an apostate were the Jewish leaders who plotted against Jesus. They knew the law of Moses but didn’t truly understand or obey it.  They used Scripture and used it to gain knowledge and power over those who were not that educated. They loved their accolades and are entitled to question anyone who would overstep that power.  They knew the truth, but they twisted it and used it for their personal gains. So, they became hypocrites.

The book of Hebrews warns us of apostasy. The writer of this book uses strong visual language to depict to the hearers the aftermath of the decision to mock or rebel against God after knowing the truth. Psalm 2 is a royal psalm that shows us how those kings and rulers and peoples of the earth who ganged up together to go against God’s anointed, who is the begotten Son. Judas Iscariot is another apostate, who betrayed Jesus for money. He was a disciple of Jesus and turned his back on all the teachings he had learned from his master.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think apostasy receives punishment from God? Is it a form of idolatry?

JOHN 8 WHEN ONE IS A SLAVE TO SIN

Posted on by

January 12

JOHN 8

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slaveto sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” – John 8:31-38

JOHN 8 WHEN ONE IS A SLAVE TO SIN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

If you believe the Lord Jesus Christ, you will obey him

There is no wavering between wickedness and sin

When one is a slave to sin, he puts himself first before God

He only thinks of gratifying himself and giving in to the world

He is not free because he is bonded with unrighteousness

The truth cannot penetrate his heart because of unfaithfulness.

John chapter 8 begins when the Pharisees and Scribes brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus. They wanted to trick the Lord into saying something that is unlawful so they could justify putting him to death. They were so threatened by how much authority and following Jesus had. It is interesting how they studied so much Scriptures and yet didn’t truly understand it and missed out that they actually have the Messiah in front of them. Jesus pointed out why they didn’t understand the truth. Their father was the devil as he explains in verses 39-47.

In verse 31, Jesus laid down one of the requirements of being his follower. They have to abide by the word. Obedience is essential in being a disciple. Notice that it didn’t require knowledge, but obedience and love. Most of the time, knowledge becomes an open door to sin. If that desire to acquire knowledge becomes more than the hunger to be intimate with the Lord, it will bring about idols which will enslave us to sin. The pursuit of knowledge becomes the motivation to seek it instead of the desire to deepen our intimacy with God and strengthen our faith. It skews our perspective of the Lord and ourselves. Instead of glorifying God, we actually want God to glorify us. By granting us such knowledge and adding it to our accolades, we get to be admired and lifted up. It sounds evil, but this is how the devil works. He is subtle and smooth in his ways of convincing us not to worship God. We don’t even notice it because he does it so cleverly.

The American bible society translates the word “slaves” as “servants” and refers to someone who was owned or controlled by someone else. Slaves of rich masters had all kinds of opportunities that they wouldn’t be able to have on their own. But slaves had no freedom and masters could do whatever they pleased with them.

REFLECTION

·       What would a slave to sin look like in our world today? What are they preoccupied with?

JAMES 1 HOW SIN IS CONCEIVED

Posted on by

January 11

JAMES 1

14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. – James 1:14-21

JAMES 1 HOW SIN IS CONCEIVED

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

A person is naturally sinful and always thinks of himself

His heart longs for things that wants to satisfy his flesh

He is tempted and lured to cater to his desires or whims

Then sin begins its conceptions when he gives in

It then turns into an obsession to listen to its cravings

Which leads to spiritual death and keeps him wanting.

It is so clear in this chapter how James gives us a depiction of sin. Prior to the following verses, he mentions that sin doesn’t come from God because God never tempts us to sin. There is no evil in God at all. But because of our inherited sinful nature, sin actually comes from the human heart.

James presents how sin starts from its conception. Just like a woman carrying a baby in her womb, it first began when she had union with her husband and it produced a fetus, then conception began. Let’s use this fetus as a symbol of that union. When God created us, he made us like him, just as our parents passed on their own DNA to us. How infants would look is determined by the genes that the baby inherited from his/her parents. As humans, we have God’s DNA which is righteousness, but the devil changed that DNA to evil when he tempted the first humans and they became sinful or unrighteous. So, in each human being, we are inherently righteous because that is our make from God, but we were corrupted by evil, so we became tarnished with sin. Humans naturally want wickedness but they are also spiritually longing to be righteous because God has placed that in every human heart. We were made for God not for the devil. Without Christ, we will likely be more like the devil. When a child has more inherited looks or traits from one parent, those characteristics become predominant in him/her. Because there is this natural evil in every human being, we are predisposed to sin. We naturally follow the flesh and its cravings. James explains to us that because of such a tendency to sin, we will prefer to do it rather than go against it. So, he exposes to us the conception of sin so that as Christians we will be able to recognize the beginnings of its origin. When we are aware of our sinfulness, we can nip it in the bud when we are enticed to give in. Otherwise, we will fail to resist it and it will lead to spiritual death.

REFLECTION

·       How can we nip sin in the bud before it destroys us?