Lead Us Not Into Temptation

We must understand that there is a difference between the temptation that is initiated by Satan and the tests and trials which God gives us.

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I recently read a story about someone who was trying to lose weight. He came into the office one day with 2 donuts. His co-workers asked him why he had bought them if he was trying to diet, and he answered, "Well, as I came to the corner where the donut shop was, I told God that if He wanted me to buy some donuts, He would find me a free parking space right in front of the door. And on the 8th time around the block, there it was! Ҭ

Temptation is something everyone wrestles with. Much of scripture is about humans succumbing to temptation and how God can save us from the tragic consequences, if we trust and obey Him. In the very first book in the Bible Adam and Eve were given one rule – not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. As we know they were both tempted by the devil to go ahead and try it. The devil said, “Are you sure that’s what God meant? Did He really mean you couldn’t eat from the tree. You surely won’t die. Look how beautiful it is and think about how wonderful it must taste.” 

Jesus Himself was tempted by the devil while in the wilderness. Being hungry after forty days of fasting the devil tempted Him to turn some stones into bread. He resisted the temptation by using scripture. He used Deuteronomy 8 verse 3: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’  When the devil tempted Him to do something supernatural for show, by throwing Himself off the highest point of the temple, he answered with Deuteronomy 6 verse 16: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' Lastly, when the devil tempted Jesus by telling Him, He could have all the kingdoms of the world if He worshipped him, Jesus replied with Deuteronomy 6 verse 13: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ 

There are two sources of temptation. The first one is ourselves Jeremiah 17:9 says: ‘The heart is deceitful above all things… Who can understand it.’ The heart has an unlimited capacity for wickedness and deceit which we are incapable of dealing with in our own strength. James 1:14-15 says, ‘Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.' Even Paul wrestled with how the ‘old self’ kept rising to the surface. He wrote in Romans 7 that he was exasperated by doing the things he didn’t want to do and not doing the things he wanted to do. He concluded with these words: ‘24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!’ 

How many of us have felt like this. I know I have. Jesus’s death on the cross means we can ask for forgiveness every time we mess up but God would rather we didn’t sin at all. That’s why he tells us to pray not to be led into temptation. It is a prayer against being in a place where we could be sucked into the temptation. We are not asking to be protected when we are actually living a sinful life but to be protected from entering into one. For example, we are not asking to be protected when we are taking drugs but we are asking for protection from taking them. We are not asking to be protected from the consequences of our sinful acts, but to be protected from deciding to act sinfully in the first place. Temptation itself is not a sin, indeed, as mentioned before, Jesus was tempted but he never sinned, no, giving in to temptation is the sin. The Bible says that God always gives us a way out when we are tempted, so we have no excuse, 1 Corinthians 10 :13 says: ‘He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.’ 

The second source of temptation comes from the devil. He is the great deceiver.  He knows exactly what to do to knock us off our feet. He knows how much money will cause someone to consider a dodgy deal or what plausible reason to give someone for not telling the truth. He knows exactly where our weaknesses lie and how to get our attention.

We must understand that there is a difference between the temptation that is initiated by Satan and the tests and trials which God gives us.  God never induces anyone to participate in that which is sinful and destructive. When God places a trial on us, he does so to teach us something and bring out the good rather than the bad. When Satan tempts us or puts some obstacle in front of us, he means it to create mayhem and disharmony and to lead us into something harmful. In James 1:2 it says: ’Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.’ Jesus teaches us to pray “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil” so that we can come out victorious in our trials and tribulations. When we pray these words, we are praying for guidance and discernment. We are praying for the strength to resist temptations from our own will and especially from the wiles of the devil, whose whole reason to live is to tempt us into wrong doing and to sow doubt and fear into our lives.

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Temptation will be a part of our experience as long as we live. So how can we can withstand the snares of our own deceitful hearts and the destructive ways of the devil? We must recognise God’s sovereignty. ‘Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.’ Everything that is in the earth and above it belongs to God. God is our greatest defence in the time of temptation. We must rely on Him for power to overcome. We must remember that Satan is not all powerful. He has limited power compared to God. He can’t make us do anything. We can learn scripture verses to quote and give us strength in times of trial. We must be aware of our own personal weaknesses, which will induce us to seek God’s help. We should never be over confident that we are able to resist temptation in our own strength. 1 Corinthians10:12 says: ‘So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!’ We must hunger after righteousness and hate sin. We must put on the armour of God. Ephesians 6:11 says: ‘Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.’

This is what Charles Spurgeon says on the subject: “If you will tell me when God permits a Christian to lay aside his armour, I will tell you when Satan has left off temptation. Like the old knights in war time, we must sleep with helmet and breastplate buckled on, for the arch-deceiver will seize our first unguarded hour to make us his prey. The Lord keep us watchful in all seasons, and give us a final escape from the jaw of the lion and the paw of the bear.“  

We should pray daily ‘Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.’ By doing this we are praying for God to lead us away and steer us away from temptation and take us where He wants us to go, into the paths of righteousness and deliver us from the one who would destroy our soul.

Lord, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. Let us turn to your word whenever we are tempted. Lord, you are our fortress and our deliverer. Give us the strength to resist the lures of sin and to walk in righteousness. Help us Lord to take the way out you provide for us before temptation turns to sin and causes harm to ourselves and others. Lord we are weak and prone to temptation. Keep us safe from the attacks of the enemy and help us to overcome them. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Author: Thelma Cameron

May God bless and enrich your life

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