The Crown or the Grave | Chris Howard | James 1:12-15
In a few weeks, students head back to school, and every student learns the same thing: hard work and study only make sense when there is something at the end. Take away the diploma and the motivation begins to wane. But put a real goal in front of you, something you can actually picture, and everything changes. That is what James does for us in chapter 1 v.12.
To a people worn down by trials, he holds up a finish line to fix our eyes on: the crown of life. But there’s a tension. Even with the crown in view, something pulls against us, and it's closer than we think. Our own desires lure us off the path, away from life and toward the grave.
This week at Grace we'll look at the two roads set before every one of us: the road to the crown, or the road to the grave. Excited to be together on Sunday!
-Pastor Chris
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James 1:12-15
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 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.