James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
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James, my patron Saint, makes it clear that temptation does not come from God. It comes from my fallen desires. God always offers a way of escape from temptation and it is clear that, eventually temptation must be overcome so that we can be approved by God, receiving the Crown of Life. It is said by the Church Fathers that people must combat temptation till their last breath and always live in a state of repentance. That is why, in the Orthodox Church, they are always praying, "Lord, have Mercy" and asking God to save us for truly, we will not know our salvation, until the very last day. It is possible, to throw it all away, even after living a life of service to God. Take a look at the life of King Solomon. He did not end well. I surely want to end well.
Temptation comes to me everyday and everyday, temptation can be resisted. Yes, I will fall and fail but the question is, will I give up? Peter asked Jesus, how many times a day should we forgive our brother? Jesus answered, Seventy times seven; in another words, As many times as he repents so he should be forgiven. I am sure that every time I ask forgiveness from God, He forgives every time For that, I am grateful because I don't always resist temptation that well.
May I always be in a state of Repentance and realize that temptation is something I don't have to yield to. Everyday is a battle; everyday is a struggle and every moment, I should yield to God. When I fail in temptations, may my immediate response be to seek His mercy. Amen.
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