Lead Us Not Into Temptation

(#1012, Imperial, 1963)

Read Matthew 6:9-13.

This prayer has constant movement.  The first section, which has to do with God, moves from the inner shrine of worship to the outer sphere of service (Thy will be done).  The second part, which has to do with ourselves, moves from the outer place of material necessity to the inner realm of spiritual conflict.  Further the prayer takes us from the throne of God to the very depths of human experience.

The realm of inner conflict.

When we are saved God implants a new nature (2 Cor. 5:17).  But this flesh is still within so that the Christian enters into a great conflict.  The Spirit wars against the flesh and the flesh against the Spirit (Gal. 5:17).  How often have we claimed God's forgiveness and resolved not to sin again only to find ourselves back where we started.  Apart from God's grace in meeting the conflict we are weak and helpless.

The source of temptation.

It might appear from this request that God leads us into circumstances calculated to trip us up and make us sin.  This is not true: God cannot tempt a man with evil (James 1:13).  Yet...

w    Gen. 22:1: God did tempt Abraham.

w    Matt. 4:1: Jesus led of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil.

There is no contradiction.  There are 2 parts in temptation:

    1.  The circumstances which may or may not lead to sin.

    2.  The desire within aroused by those circumstances (Jas. 1:14-15).

God tempts only as He creates or permits circumstances which either are an occasion for falling or an opportunity to prove His power to keep you.  In this sense temptation is merely testing (1 Peter 1:4-7).

The petition: lead us not into temptation.

w    Here is a recognition of our weakness.

w    Here is a recognition we need God's help.  (1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Peter 2:9; Heb. 2:18)

Count it all joy (James 1:2) when you have an opportunity to prove God's power.