Lead Us Not Into Temptation

“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil” (Matt.6:13. . . At first glance, this sounds like this is asking God not to tempt us when James 1:13, tells us that God tempts no man to evil.  So a son wouldn’t suspect his Father of doing that.   One of the meanings of temptation here is adversity.  Neither would sons ask Father to keep us from adversity, because a mature son knows better than to expect not having to grow in character through overcoming.   I think The Message may have captured the heart of this phrase:  Mat 6:13  Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.  One of the meanings of the Greek word translated here as “not” is “lest,” which means “for fear that.”   That would lend this phrase to say, “Father lead us and deliver us from evil for fear that we will fall to temptation if You don’t.”   And as a son with that understanding, my prayer would be in agreement, “May I live my life today showing that I am not under the dictates and influence of temptation because I am delivered from the evil one”.  I can pray that with confident expectation because Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory.   Therefore, we pray as sons, knowing our Father has, and always will have, the prevailing governmental order and the authoritative power and the ultimate manifestation of His every intent . . . forever.
(This is the twelfth excerpt from Kathy’s article “Praying As Sons“ which was published in SEEC Magazine [Marty and Kathy’s ministry magazine]. More excerpts will be posted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Previous excerpts may be read by scrolling down this page)