We come to the end of The LORD’s Prayer today with the last request to our Father God. “And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.”
I have often heard people debate about those words and whether God leads us “into” temptation. We do not need God to lead us to temptation, we can find that readily on our own. We need God to lead us away from temptation and that can be inferred from what Jesus told us to pray.
“Our Father … lead us away from temptation and deliver us from the evil one who enjoys tempting us!” [paraphrased]
James is quite clear when he describes the origin of temptation and the progression of sin and death in James 1:12-15: “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.” [NKJV]
Evil desires are endemic to fallen mankind. While I do not believe the enemy of our soul can read our minds, he can certainly throw disgusting thoughts toward them, and then he can judge by our response just how to tempt us next time. If we succumb to temptations that arouse anger, guess how we will be tempted going forward. If we display pride and arrogance, how many ways do you think the enemy will tempt us to do that again. If we fall into greed and covetousness, he will promote that.
The enemy of our soul will never waste an opportunity to draw us away to sin. We need to cover ourselves in prayer as we face each day.
Father, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, lead us away from temptation. Give us victory over all the attempts of the enemy to entice us. Keep us in Your loving care, close to Your heart, where no evil may befall us. Amen & Amen.
