In His Name Devotionals
GOD'S PROTECTION
In His Name Devotionals
GOD'S PROTECTION
“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:13)
At the moment of your salvation, judicial forgiveness covered all of your sins. Upon our confession of future sins, parental forgiveness restores the joy and sweet fellowship broken by any subsequent sins. But concurrent with the joy of being forgiven is the desire to be protected from future sins. That’s the desire expressed in Matthew 6:13, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
That petition seems simple enough at first glance, but it raises some important questions. According to James 1:13, God doesn’t tempt anyone to commit sin; so why ask Him to protect us from something He apparently wouldn’t lead us into in the first place?
Some say the word ‘temptation’ in Matthew 6:13 means ‘trials.’ But trials strengthen us and prove the genuineness of our faith. We are to rejoice in them, not avoid them (James 1:2-4).
This is not so much a technical theological statement as it is an emotional plea from one who hates sin and wants to be protected from it. Chrysostom, the early church father, said this petition is a natural appeal of human weakness as it faces danger (Homily 19.10).
Most Christians have a healthy sense of self-distrust. That’s why most carefully guard what they think, say, watch, read, and listen to. If they sense spiritual danger, they run into the presence of God and say, “Lord, I will be overwhelmed by this situation unless You come to my aid.” That is the spirit of Matthew 6:13.
We live in a fallen world that throws temptation after temptation our way. Therefore it is only natural and proper for Christians to continually confess sins, receive the Father’s forgiveness, and plead with Him to deliver us from the possibility of sinning against Him in the future.
