In Matthew 5 Jesus is teaching his disciples about prayer (yes, it’s a running theme with me this last month) and he points out different things we should be bringing to God. In one case he says that we should ask God to "Lead us not into temptation." Now the early church started teaching that God sometimes tempts us, and maybe they got the idea from this, but James 1:13 clears it all up by saying God does not tempt anyone. In the Greek language they mix up the words different for reasons like emphasis, but another way of saying this would be to say “LEAD US away from temptation.” So really what I'm praying is "God, lead me away from temptation." You see, it's me that goes to temptation. Or sometimes temptation is stalking me. (I’m using the word stalking, because temptation is a tricky little guy. It’s lurking in the strangest of places.) So the real trick to overcoming temptation is to stay away from it. Like with Joseph. When Potiphar’s wife started hitting on him, Joseph took off running. See Joseph recognized that his human side might do something stupid if he stuck around. He was being led away from temptation. Jesus had to be tempted on our behalf; he took temptation for us and beat it. Now when He had been tempted three times he sent Satan away from him. “Away from me.”
When it comes to temptation, well, usually we don't include God at all when we are being tempted. Like Eve, she could've called on God when Satan was tempting her, but she didn't. How would things have been different if she would have included God? So in this prayer, we are including God, were asking him to help. Hey, I see some temptation, Father God, steer me out of here. You see God's strength is made perfect in your weakness, but you should ask Him for that help. James said, "we have not because we ask not." Want to overcome temptation, well pray about it, ask God to get you away from it. Now that sounds like something He would definitely help with.
The Living Word Bible Church - Jason Anderson
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