50 Days of Prayer for Fellowship CRC

Matt. 6:13, “And lead us not into temptation…” We are well familiar with these words which the Lord Jesus taught us to pray, and have not doubt prayed them many times before. We can readily affirm them with an ”amen”, because certainly we do not want to be led into temptation.  But perhaps when we pause to examine the words, they are a bit unsettling. Why did Jesus teach us to pray this way?  Would our good God and Father lead us into temptation?

In yesterday’s sermon we discussed the difference between testing and tempting.  It is necessary that we are tested, that is examined, to make us strong for what we will have to face in life. It is not good to be tempted, that is, enticed to sin.  Testing strengthens our character, that we may persevere in the Christian life. Temptation, if we are unprepared for it, can cripple us.

“Lead us not into temptation…” By saying this in prayer, we are acknowledging, so both God and we can hear it, that we want to steer as far as possible from sin.  We don’t even want to be in a place where we are contemplating sin. And we are admitting our weakness and need for divine help to not let sin have the final say in our lives.   And it will not, if the Lord Jesus is our guide.

So we pray,
Father God, holy and true, may your Name be kept holy in our lives today. So that we may maintain the holiness of your Name, please steer us far from sin and temptation to sin.  If a test be necessary today, please use it to strengthen us and to help us to withstand temptation.  We trust you, Father, because we know that you love us and want the best for us.  Help those who are weak today, and help us to help them for your Name’s sake. Amen.