5 Things God Wants You to Know About the Lord’s Prayer نموونە

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Of course, the key word here is “temptation.” Whether you acknowledge it or not, we all face temptation each and every day. The dictionary defines temptation as follows:

Temptation is something you want to have or to do, even though you know you shouldn't.

In our lives, temptation is presented everywhere. In fact, modern-day marketing relies on this power of temptation to bring you to the point of wanting to have or buy whatever it is that is being promoted.

The biggest temptation that we may face is the lie that we can indeed have whatever we want, that we can have it all – a clear message from the evil one to lead us away from God.

Now, of course, not all advertising and marketing is necessarily evil. But, in this day of selfies, self-worship, and self-aggrandizement, far too many of the promotions we face each day – on all forms of media – take our focus away from worshipping and glorifying God to worshipping or glorifying ourselves or others.

Take a moment to think about the impact of any of the following in your life: movies, TV, sports, fashion, the newest gadgets, money, position, promotion, a new house, vacations, and on and on.

Each of these may hold something that we want to chase after – the very temptation that Jesus is referring to – leading us away from God and towards the evil one.

Jesus is so serious about staying away from temptation and evil that he goes to all extremes in teaching this to others:

“You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. – Matthew 5:27-30

Do we really need to start cutting of our hand or poking out our eye? Surely Jesus can’t be serious?!?

But, yes, Jesus is serious. Deadly serious. If something stands between you drawing closer to God or moving towards the evil one, Jesus says get rid of it. Cut it out.

So now, back to your life. Of the list we looked at, what draws you away from God? And what can you do about that?

Not sure? Then start by looking at where you spend your time & money. These two measures will reveal the truth of what you think is important in life.

Once you identify that thing – or those things – that are taking you away from God, then take action! Get rid of unnecessary time spent in those areas and stop spending on those things also. Then work to replace the time & money spent in those areas on passions and pursuits that glorify God and draw you closer to Him.

Can you do that?

Needless to say, it will be difficult. So let’s close again with the words of wisdom from the Apostle Paul:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is---his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

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