And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 6:13
This verse has always been confusing. Where does temptation come from? Does God ever lead us into temptation? The Epistles of James 1:12-17, helps give some clarity to these questions, and reinforces that only good comes from God:
Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted with evil and He Himself tempts no one; but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death. Do no be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from Above, coming down from the Father of lights with Whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Only good comes from God and if something is not good, it is not from God. We know that God does not lead us into temptation. And we know that to be led by God requires obedience and submission, and trust that God knows where He is leading us.
When Christ became man, He experienced temptation just as we do. Remember that immediately before He began His ministry, before giving the Sermon on the Mount, He was in the wilderness for forty days where He was tempted by the devil. The difference between us and Christ is that He did not fall to temptation. We read in Hebrews 2:17-18: Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. Jesus matched the will of the Father at all times. He was in sync with God in every circumstance. It takes a tremendous amount of willpower for us to be in sync with God.
However, willpower alone will not help us resist temptation. This is why we fall so often. Because our will and His will are not always in sync. Praying, reading Scripture, fasting and almsgiving can all help avoid temptation. Each one of these involves discipline and discipline of the mind, soul and heart helps build discipline over the body—the mouth, the eyes and the hands. Living a disciplined life helps us live a more faithful one. In I Timothy 6:9-11, we read:
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
We spend so much of our lives pursuing money, looking at financial gain as the only motive to work in many instances (not all, but for many people, there is no joy in work, just the opportunity for financial gain). And then we spend a lot of time pursuing the things that money can buy. And we forget the pursuit of righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness and gentleness.
Just as there is good in the world, there is also the presence of evil. We read in I Peter 5: 8-11:
Be soberminded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, Who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
We don’t think of the devil as prowling around us necessarily, but that is exactly what he does, looking for the crack in our foundation, in order to exploit it. The devil is especially around those who are trying to do good, those who are trying to pursue God. In the Orthodox world, we speak about the concept of spiritual warfare, a real and intense daily battle for the things of God versus the things of the devil. Most of us remember the cartoon images of someone with a white angel on one shoulder and a red devil on the other, the angel lobbying for good and the devil lobbying for evil. This is actually an accurate depiction of spiritual warfare. The disciplines of Scripture, prayer, fasting, worship and almsgiving help us be disciplined to hear the voice of God and crowd out the noise of temptation brought by the devil. St. Paul writes in Ephesians 6:10-13:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic power over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and done all, to stand firm.
The battle to resist temptation is constant and the need to be delivered from evil is something we need daily. This is why Jesus was intentional about speaking of these things in the Lord’s Prayer.
Incline Thy ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life for I am godly; save Thy servant who trusts in Thee. Thou art my God; be gracious to me, O Lord, for to Thee do I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of Thy servant, for to Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For Thou, o Lord, art good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on thee. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; hearken to my cry of supplication. In the day of my trouble I call on Thee, for Thou dost answer me. There is none like Thee among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like Thine. All the nations Thou has made shall come and bow down before Thee, O Lord, and shall glorify Thy name. For Thou art great and doest wondrous things, Thou alone art God. Teach me Thy way, O Lord, that I may walk in Thy truth; unite my heart to fear Thy name. I give thanks to Thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Thy name forever. For great is Thy steadfast love toward me; Thou has delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. O God, insolent men have risen against me; a band of ruthless men seek my life, and they do not set Thee before them. But Thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and take pity on me; give thy strength to Thy servant, and save the son of Thy handmaid. Show me a sign of Thy favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame, because Thou, Lord, hast helped me and comforted me. Psalm 86
Points to ponder: Is temptation something you think about or pray about often? How should we guard against putting ourselves in situations where we know we are especially tempted?
