Knowing God - Matthew 6:13

(from Pastor)

And lead us not into temptation ...

Matthew 6:13

 

I love it when people ask me questions about faith and scripture. Occasionally, I will pass them on to the rest of you, figuring if one person's interest, others may be too. Here's today's question ...

 

How do you explain the phrase of the Lord's Prayer that says "Lead us not into temptation" when the Bible says that God does not tempt us? (James 1:13-14) 

 

        1

God does NOT tempt us -- nor lead us in that direction. How does we know this? Because it is never God's desire for us to enter into sin because sin is incompatible with God's nature. As it says in 1 John 3:9, "[when] God's seed [God's life, God's nature] abides in [us], [we will not] make a practice of sinning."

 

        2

Nevertheless, God allows us to be put into situations where our faith is tested and strengthened. As it says in 1 Peter 1:7, "These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.

        3

Where do we find hard, challenging, tempting situations? In every corner of daily life! As Paul puts it -- 1 Cor 10:13 -- "No temptation has seized you except what is common to [all]."

 

        4

What's our hope? God! His power. His guidance. His intervention ... as we allow him to truly work through us. Again Paul says -- same verse 1 Corinthians 10:13 -- "When you are tempted, [God] will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

 

        SUMMARY

Does God lead us into temptation? No. Life does! And life's hard knocks can purify us if we let them. 

        Furthermore, we need to take strength in this: God will protect us in and through all our trials if we let him! Again 1 Corinthians 10:13 -- "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear."

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's succumbed to temptations

and is continually learning to rely on God's power 

instead of mine

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Free will.  Our own. Others'.  That is what leads us into temptation. James 1:13-14 says, "When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;  but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed." However, God has provided ways out. He also won't let us go too far.  We may disagree, but he sees the big picture - the finished product.  He is a loving father who will let us make choices that aren't the best and watch and be at the ready when we call out to him for help.  

But He is also offering to strengthen us so we don't get to that point in the first place.  God's seed, his nature, is in us. The more we nurture that, the less we will sin. The less we will succumb to temptation.  He isn't leading us into temptation - he is leading us to purification. to eternal life with him.