Thursday, July 16
Prayer for Protection
And do not lead us into temptation.
Matthew 6:13
Flip Wilson was a television comedian whose character Geraldine had a standard excuse when she did something wrong: "The devil made me do it." While theologically her excuse was lacking (the devil can't make anyone sin), associating the devil with temptation is certainly biblical.
Why, then, when Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray, did He tell them to ask God not to "lead us into temptation"? Is God actually a source of temptation for His children? Not according to James 1:13: "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He himself tempt anyone." "Temptation" can also be translated "testing," but James also says we should embrace "tests" with joy because of their positive benefits (James 1:2-4). So what does the prayer mean? Jesus may have had both "temptation" and "testing" in mind because it's often in a time of testing that we are tempted to unfaithfulness. So Jesus is teaching a prayer of protection: "Lord, protect me when I am tested that I might not sin against You."
If you are facing a test or a temptation of any kind, ask God for His covering and protection that you may endure with faithfulness and victory.
Those that would avoid sin must not parley with temptation.
Matthew Henry
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Isaiah 1:1 - 4:6
