And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13 NIV)
Today’s Scripture is the focus in the seventh and final chapter of my book, “Our Father: A Personal Journey of Discovery into the Lord’s Prayer.” It’s taken awhile for me to write about each chapter, due to life’s events over recent times. I want to sincerely thank each of you for your patience and understanding. I have needed some time to attend to personal matters.
My view of trials and temptation was greatly affected by prayer, and the research I did in preparation for writing this chapter.
The change in my thinking began with James 1:13-15 (ESV), which says, “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. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
“Each person is lured and enticed by his own desire.” So that must mean that I have the choice to say “no” instead of giving into the temptation.
Every one of us experiences temptation at some time, but the good news is that we have a choice…we can resist that temptation, and not give in to our desires. We need our heavenly Father to ‘deliver us from the evil one’ in those times. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV) says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
Victory over temptation is possible for us through Jesus Christ, regardless of the reason that we are susceptible to the enemy’s plots.
Galatians 3:13-14 (ESV) says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.“
Romans 6:14 (ESV) says, “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” The evil one, Satan, is motivated to harm us and bring destruction to our lives in any way he can. However, James 1: 2-4 (ESV) tells us about God’s motives for allowing us to endure trials and temptations. That Scripture says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
God’s plan for us is healing and wholeness. Thus, we need to go through a refining process for that healing to take place – so that we can be made whole. Sometimes that means we will need to endure difficult times of trials and temptations, so that God’s plan can be fulfilled in our lives.
When we go through any kind of trials, we need to follow Jesus’ example of living in victory over the evil one, Satan. We can read more about that in Luke 4:1-13. In that passage of Scripture, we see that the Holy Spirit of God led Jesus into the wilderness, for the purpose of facing and overcoming temptation.
When Jesus faced those temptations, He was filled with the Holy Spirit. At His Baptism, when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove, His Father said to Him, “…You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22 ESV) Jesus could be confident in His identity as God’s Son, and He had been affirmed by His Father.
We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and living in assurance of God’s love and acceptance as His child. As we spend time with Him daily through prayer and reading His Word, we will be strengthened in those ways.
My prayer is, “Thank You, God, for Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV), which says, “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Please help us to draw near to You in our times of need. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
