When the Bait Looks Good

To stop the damage sin brings, stop giving sin room in your life.

THIS WEEK’S BOLD STEP DEVOTION

“Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.”
(James 1:14)

I still remember walking into our house one day after work and finding my wife, Dee, standing on a chair with a broom raised like a weapon. A mouse had darted across the kitchen floor, and she was not about to negotiate with it. I managed to trap it in the bathroom and take care of the situation, but later I found myself thinking about how that little mouse had ended up there. A trap looks harmless and sometimes even attractive, but what it promises always leads to destruction. Temptation works the same way. All of us know what it feels like to be drawn toward something that looks good but leads us the wrong way.

James wrote to believers who were confused about where temptation comes from, and he wanted them to understand its process so they could overcome it. He begins by making it very clear that the source of our temptation is never God. God may test us to strengthen our character, but He never tempts us to do evil. The pull we feel comes from our own desires, yet we often try to shift the blame onto God, the devil, or the people around us. Yet as long as we blame others, we stay stuck. Real victory begins when we take responsibility for the desires that surface in our hearts.

Desires in themselves are not wrong. God created us with longings for love, food, affection, success, rest, and companionship. But when we try to satisfy those desires outside of His design, they become distorted. We get drawn toward something that looks appealing but carries a hidden trap, and all of us know what it feels like to be pulled toward something that promises good but leads us in the wrong direction.

Here's the good news. Temptation doesn’t have the final word. At any point, through confession and repentance, we can interrupt its allure. The sooner we bring it into the light, the weaker its grip becomes. If we truly understood the damage sin brings, we would stop giving it room in our lives and stand firm in the power God gives to overcome it.

Bold Step Challenge:
Identify one area where you have been entertaining temptation, even in small ways. Bring it honestly before God. Then take one practical step today to interrupt its influence. Set a boundary, talk with a trusted friend, or remove something that continually draws you in.

Prayer:
Dear God, thank You that You never tempt me to do evil but always lead me toward life. Show me any desire in my heart that has drifted from Your design. Give me wisdom to see temptation clearly and courage to turn away before it takes root. Strengthen me by Your Spirit so I can walk in purity, freedom, and joy today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Listen to the sermon: Avoiding Temptation Traps

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Ministry Update from Mark

My heart is deeply stirred these days by the signs of spiritual awakening rising across our nation. It feels as though a generation is being shaken lifting its eyes toward heaven with a fresh, unfiltered hunger for God. Beneath all the noise in our world, I sense the quiet rumble of renewal as the Spirit moves in powerful and unexpected ways.

At the same time, the pushback is real. In addition to the growing hostility many believers are facing around the world—from Nigeria to China, North Korea, India, and Iran—we’re also seeing a troubling rise in antisemitism. Our Jewish brothers and sisters in places like Australia, Europe, and right here in the United States are experiencing threats, harassment, and fear at levels we haven’t seen in decades.

Yet even in times like these, the people of God do not shrink back—they shine. Throughout history, revival and resistance have often emerged side by side, and even now, God is working with quiet, unstoppable power.

Would you join me in praying for courage, protection, and bold faith for God’s people everywhere and for a mighty awakening that only He can bring?