Lead us not into temptation

Each article I have been walking through the Lord's Prayer phrase by phrase. Rather than a rote prayer, the Lord's Prayer is an outline of how we can learn how to pray, on our own, following the example of Jesus Christ.

Anytime you visit the ocean, there are always warning signs before entering the beach. Especially on the West coast there are signs warning against what are called "sneaker waves." A sneaker wave is one that is unusually larger or more powerful than the normal surf that is coming and the waves reach farther up the beach than expected.

You don't know these waves are coming until right at the last moment. What happens is that people are not paying attention and the waves come up and pull people right into the water, often trapping them in churning water under the surface.

The purpose of these signs is not to keep people off the beach or not to enjoy it at all. Instead, the purpose of these warning signs is for visitors to be watchful. The rule is to never turn your back on the ocean but instead to keep an eye on what the water is doing.

In Matthew 16:13, we see Jesus teaching us how to pray with the request... "And lead us not into temptation." Through Jesus' prayer we see an outline and model for how to shape our prayers. Facing temptation is a reality and certainly a necessary focus that should be part of our prayers to the Father.

The Lord's Prayer assumes the reality of temptation. Our first commitment is to remain fixed on the Lord's direction and trust that God will guide us according to His perfect Word.

Along with this we are to take up a watchful attitude to guard against temptation. This begins with understanding the nature of temptation. To pray, "Lead us not into temptation" never thinks God would ever tempt us but is a declaration of trusting God's perfect direction.

In James Chapter 1 we see a clear understanding of the reality of temptation.

James 1:13-15 (NIV) "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. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."

The message from James is to not blame others for temptation, the devil or even God. The ownership of temptation rests on me and with that I must be watchful about staying committed to following God's direction and instructions.

The goal of the Lord's Prayer is recognizing God's perfect leadership of our life and to pursue godliness, holiness and the fruit of the Spirit. We pursue this by fleeing from and steering clear of any temptation that would yank us in the wrong direction. The Lord's Prayer points our hearts in the right direction, asking God to lead us.