Wednesday 29th May
Read Matthew 6:9-13
“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.” (NIVUK)
Many ancient and modern Christian thinkers have sought to address the dissonance between temptation and God never tempting through translating ‘temptation’ as ‘testing’. In this way it is not temptation that God may lead us into, but tests of our faith. Though admirable in intention, it stumbles slightly when one considers how James begins the letter in which he states that God tempts no one.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3) (NIVUK)
It may seem counter-productive if trials and tests are good for us to ask not to be led into them…
The solution perhaps lies in the earliest biblical books. ‘Temptation’ and deliverance from ‘the evil one’ should cast our minds back to Eden (Genesis 3). Spend time reflecting on that narrative and how it helps us pray as Jesus has taught…
