Today’s Devotion
Topic: The Lord’s Prayer (Final Part)
Text: Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen
Yesterday, we asked that our sins be forgiven just as we forgive those who trespass against us. Indeed, God has forgiven us but, the temptation to sin constantly persists. Many times, we go back to the same sins we had prayed to God for forgiveness. The text today teaches us some basic lessons that we ought to adhere to, in order to overcome this canker of sin in the fabric of life.
1. Lead us not into temptation:
If we honestly and assuredly prayed for forgiveness, there is a conscious effort not to fall back into sin again. To ask the Lord to lead us not into temptation is to humbly tell Him our own self-mistrust. We incline to take it as a prayer against being drawn to our own will, into temptation.
It is certain that, God sometimes brings His people (for instance Abraham, and Christ Himself) into circumstances both fitted and designed to try them, or test their faith. However we must understand that, He does not tempt nor does He allow any temptation beyond what we can bear. He always make way out of any temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). So the prayer that “He leads us not into temptation” simply means, “Lord help us not venture the path of temptation.”
This prayer is also to remind us to take responsibility for our actions that lead to temptation- and not even assume God has a hand in it. This is how: once we all know God does not tempt and we are aware He both hears and answers prayer, and we have gone ahead to pray that He leads us not into TEMPTATION, then it’s even the more assuring, that not one temptation will ever come from Him. Implying, we are fully responsible for each temptation we find ourselves in and can never excuse that God pushed us to it or even willed it so.
2. But deliver us from evil (from the evil one): God delivers us from the assaults of the devil all the time. Satan tempts us with sin so he can separate us from God. He puts snares our way just to entice us to do evil and fall short of the glory of God. However in the presence of God’s power, He flees! He really is powerless at the mention of the name: JESUS!
Psalm 11: 2- 3 says, “For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Verses 4, 6 and 7 of the same chapter, says, “4 The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord is on His heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth His eyes examine them. 6 On the wicked He will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. 7 For the Lord is righteous, He loves justice; the upright will see His face.
Beloved, our God IS MIGHTY TO SAVE. He has power over all the schemes of the devil, so we are made every bit whole in Him. He is able to deliver us from the corruption in our world today, from the lust of the flesh and of the eye, from the pride of life and from evil sting of death.
He is also able to deliver us from our own selves, our continually evil desires and selfish ambitions. He is able to deliver us from evil men and snares that are set against us. He delivers us from the snares we become for each other’s downfall even at church.
Let’s pray that the Lord delivers us from our own wills, sin and satan. He should also deliver us from all the evil in this world and preserve us for His glory. Begin to pray now! Watch and be blessed: https://youtu.be/OhHsgZznJxA
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