PRAYING FOR PROTECTION (6 OF 8)
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6-11
This content is part of a series.
Praying for Protection (6 of 8)
Series: Talking to God
Jonathan McLeod
1 Peter 5:6-11
''And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil'' (Matt. 6:13).
THE NEED FOR PROTECTION
A few years ago, I was pressure washing my deck, and I became curious about how strong the water pressure was. So I sprayed my foot-my bare foot. That was a mistake. My foot hurt so much that I was afraid to look at it, thinking there might be a hole in it. I discovered the hard way why it's recommended that you wear protective footwear while pressure washing.
The final petition of the Lord's Prayer is a petition for protection: ''And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil'' (Matt. 6:13). As people often foolishly do a job without wearing the recommended protective gear, we often foolishly go through a day without praying to God for protection from sin. Why do we do that? It's often because of overconfidence in ourselves.
[Read 1 Peter 5:6-11.]
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION?
Would God ever lead us into temptation? No, James 1:13 states that ''[God] tempts no one.'' So why should we pray, ''Lead us not into temptation''? The Greek word translated ''temptation'' (peirasmos) can mean either ''temptation'' or ''trials.'' Both temptation and trials are tests. They test our faithfulness to God.
God doesn't test us by leading us into temptation, but he sometimes does test us by causing us to go through trials. ''Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials [peirasmos] of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness'' (James 1:2; cf. v. 12). According to the ESV Study Bible, ''The meaning [of Matthew 6:13] most likely carries the sense, 'Allow us to be spared from difficult circumstances that would tempt us to sin.'''
But if trials produce steadfastness, should we pray to avoid them? Jesus did. He prayed, ''My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as y ...
Series: Talking to God
Jonathan McLeod
1 Peter 5:6-11
''And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil'' (Matt. 6:13).
THE NEED FOR PROTECTION
A few years ago, I was pressure washing my deck, and I became curious about how strong the water pressure was. So I sprayed my foot-my bare foot. That was a mistake. My foot hurt so much that I was afraid to look at it, thinking there might be a hole in it. I discovered the hard way why it's recommended that you wear protective footwear while pressure washing.
The final petition of the Lord's Prayer is a petition for protection: ''And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil'' (Matt. 6:13). As people often foolishly do a job without wearing the recommended protective gear, we often foolishly go through a day without praying to God for protection from sin. Why do we do that? It's often because of overconfidence in ourselves.
[Read 1 Peter 5:6-11.]
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION?
Would God ever lead us into temptation? No, James 1:13 states that ''[God] tempts no one.'' So why should we pray, ''Lead us not into temptation''? The Greek word translated ''temptation'' (peirasmos) can mean either ''temptation'' or ''trials.'' Both temptation and trials are tests. They test our faithfulness to God.
God doesn't test us by leading us into temptation, but he sometimes does test us by causing us to go through trials. ''Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials [peirasmos] of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness'' (James 1:2; cf. v. 12). According to the ESV Study Bible, ''The meaning [of Matthew 6:13] most likely carries the sense, 'Allow us to be spared from difficult circumstances that would tempt us to sin.'''
But if trials produce steadfastness, should we pray to avoid them? Jesus did. He prayed, ''My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as y ...
There are 4736 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
.jpg)
