Lead Us Not Into Temptation

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil..." (Matthew 6:13)

Growing up, I was taught to recite the Lord's prayer in Sunday school, and I committed it to memory at an early age. It wasn't until years later, however, that the words began to sink in, and then only little by little as the Lord opened my understanding to what I had learned. Most recently, though, I was brought up short by the words quoted above.

I have always considered that temptation was an inevitable part of life, and that there was nothing that I could do to avoid it, but these words promise something altogether different than I had ever considered. They indicate that the Lord is willing to lead me in such a way that I will not walk into temptation blindly, and that He is able to deliver me from the evil that would seek to divert me from following Him.

When Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray before His betrayal and ultimate crucifixion, his disciples were unable to stay awake and pray with Him. When He discovered them sleeping, He said to them, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41) Had they stayed alert and been praying, they would have been better prepared for what was to follow, and, perhaps, have reacted differently when the Romans came to take their Lord. Our spirit is usually willing to do what is right, but, without the Lord's help, our flesh will usually lean toward what is carnal.

David, king of Judah and Israel, was tempted with the woman Bathsheba. She was a married woman, and David knew better than to sin with her, but scripture reveals something very significant about this story in the first verse of 2 Samuel 11. There it says, "And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem." It was the time when kings go forth to battle, yet David sent everyone else and stayed at home himself. It was David's place to lead his army, not leave it to someone else, and because he chose to laze about the palace, it left him restless and open to temptation.

We, also, are fighting in a spiritual warfare. It is the time for us to be in the battle, not doing what we please. We can't rely on others to fight the battles for us - we must be willing and ready to take the field ourselves. When we forget that the enemy is seeking whom he may devour, and choose, instead, to walk in the flesh, then we are going to be taken unawares, and, potentially, fall in defeat. Paul tells us to put on all of the armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. If we neglect to use the weapons and armor that the Lord has provided us for our defense, then we only have ourselves to blame if we get caught in a gunfight with only a butter knife! Christians cannot live in a neutral state. We are either actively serving the Lord, or we are slipping into carnality and sin which ultimately will jeopardize our very salvation. David paid a horrific price for his sin with Bathsheba, but we can avoid such a tragic mistake in our own lives.

James tells us in his letter to the believers, "every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." (James 1:14) It is being "drawn away" that gets us in trouble; but if we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." (Galatians 5:17) The closer that we walk with the Lord, the less we will find ourselves hampered by carnal thoughts and desires. Our hearts and minds will be focused on what pleases the Lord, and not on what only pleases our flesh. We will find it easier, too, to make the choice to stay away from situations and influences that would place us temptation.

Satan likes to isolate his victims. That's when we become easy prey to his subtleties. This is why fellowship is so important for God's children. "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) Eve was tempted by the serpent when she was alone and Adam was not around. This is not to say that we must never be alone, but when we don't get fellowship with other believers on a regular basis, we leave ourselves open to the enemy. Just as a metal sharpening steel can hone a sharp edge on a metal knife, we also keep one another sharp by exhorting, counseling, sharing, and praying for each other. This is one of the reasons that the Lord sent His disciples out two-by-two: so they could encourage and admonish each other as they went out to minister. This is also why we are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

The reality of it all is that we don't always walk in the Spirit, and we are often tempted. Even worse, we sometimes fall to temptation and commit sin. If we do find ourselves in temptation, it is important to discern where we deviated from walking with the Lord, and let it be something that we learn from and correct in the future. We are told, "the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:7, 8) If we want to please God, we must learn to walk with Him, and cease from walking in the flesh; and if we walk in Him, we will be less subject to temptation.

St. Paul says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) It is a question of faith whether or not we believe that God will provide us with an escape, and if we believe it, we will actively be looking for it and will find it. We can't flirt with sin and remain unscathed.

If we do commit sin, then we need to know that God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We have a mediator - an advocate - Who will plead our case before the Father, because He shed His life's blood to redeem us from sin. If we truly repent of our sin - and turn from our ways - Jesus will wash us whiter than snow.

God's salvation is complete and entire. It's the full package with all the options. Everything that you need to live a joyful, fruitful, successful life is found in Christ. He is our righteousness. He is our peace. He is our joy. He is our victory! "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25) Draw near to Him and you will find that He will lead you away from temptation, and deliver you from evil. All that you desire of life and righteousness you will find in Him.