16
“Lead us not into Temptation”
| Sis Millie Trueman
T
here is one petition in the Lord’s Prayer
which has often caused difficulty, it is this:
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil.” James says, “Let no man say when
he is tempted, ‘I am tempted of God,’ for God
cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempted
he any man, but every man is tempted
when he is drawn away by his own lusts and
enticed.”
It must be borne in mind that this word “temp-
tation” means trial; for in other parts of God’s
word we find God does lead his servants
through trial, and it is by faith under trial that
we are perfected. Then how can we ask God
not to lead us into trial? The two expressions
“Lead us not into trial” and “deliver us from
evil” should not be separated. The thought in
the mind of Jesus seems to have been the
need for faith, for whilst God in his wisdom
may lead us through trial, we must pray (and
have faith in His guidance), that He will not
lead us into any trial which would result in evil
for us, or, in other words, that He will not lead
us into circumstances so difficult that they are
beyond our strength, and we fall.
If we pray this prayer in complete faith in the
power and willingness of God to hear, then the
effect of it will be that we shall go through our
daily lives unafraid and undisturbed by trou-
ble, knowing he will not bring upon us any trial
which is harder than we can bear. In circum-
stances of happiness and contentment there is
no need of faith or patience, but in conditions
of hardship, or when in the company of people
who naturally tend to irritate or exasperate
us, it is then our faith is tried; there arises a
need for endurance. We have to learn to ex-
ercise restraint, to control not only our words,
but the way we use them, and even their tone.
This way lays the training of the mind and the
mind of Christ is developed, so that instead of
an angry retort we may give the soft answer
that turns away wrath.
Supposing instead of worries or trials, we had
no sad experiences, and our lives were hedged
about by God in a miraculous way! What would
our adversaries say? “Do these fear God for
nought? Thou hast made a hedge about them,
on every side, about their homes and all they
have. Their substance is increased in the
land.”
The way for brethren and sisters is the way
Christ went, through trials and difficulties; but
faith in God makes all the difference – His
ways are always best for us. He will lead us
through our wilderness to the Promised Land.
Faith is counted to us for righteousness. The
Apostle Paul says, “There hath no temptation
(trial) taken you but such as is common to
man; but God is faithful who will not suffer
you to be tried above that ye are able; but
will with the trial make a way of escape, that
ye may be able to bear it.”
It may be in the evening,
It may be in the night,
Just when the cock is crowing,
Or in the morning light.
What will He find us doing?
Will our hands be on the latch?
To open at His coming,
Alert and on the watch?
Or will He find us sleeping
As children in the night,
Whose life is nought but darkness,
Who know not Truth or Right?
Let all be up and doing
As children of the Day
Who wish to please the Master
Who bids us watch and pray.
The signs are in the heavens,
He standeth at the door.
Go forth ye saints to greet him
And live for evermore.
He is Coming