17/01/2025
๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฒ . . .
๐๐๐ ๐๐โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐?
God is Holy, He is love. He tempts no one, we tempt ourselves (James 1:14, 15). So then, have you ever wondered whatJesus meant when He said in the Lordโs Prayer, โDo not lead us into temptationโ? Jesus was not implying that God tempts us into sin and we must beg Him not to push us there.
So, what does it mean? As in most, if not all, languages, words can have more than one meaning in Greek. So you must look at the original word and its context. The Greek word for โleadโ is eisphero. This verse can be translated as โdo not
let us go, do not abandon us there, do not permit us to go.โ It doesnโt mean to โentice.โ
The Greek word for โtemptationโ is peirasmon. It can be translated as โtrial, test, adversity,โ etc. So the phrase โdo not lead us into temptationโ can mean, โPlease do not abandon me because alone I will slip into sin, or stay in the sin I have
already gotten intoโ or โIf you test me, do not leave me alone or let me stay there for too long for fear of my slipping into sin.โ
At times God allows or puts you in specific situations to help you understand your heart and spiritual condition, to open your eyes to see how you are and what you need. The Bible says that you โdo not know that you are wretched,
miserable, poor, blind, and nakedโ (Rev. 3:17, NKJV). When you know you are sick, you go to a doctor, but how can you address something that you donโt know about?
When we see how we are, we realize how sinful we are and know we need Jesus. โThose who live nearest to Jesus discern most clearly the frailty and sinfulness of humanity, and their only hope is in the merit of a crucified and risen
Saviorโ (The Great Controversy, p. 471).
God tested King Zedekiah (2 Chron. 32:31). Proverbs 17:3 says that God is testing our hearts. David prayed, โTest me, Lord, and try meโ (Ps. 26:2, NIV). Peter says that the fiery trials are sometimes meant to test us (1 Peter 4:12).
โA view of our sinfulness drives us to Him who can pardon; when the soul, realizing its helplessness, reaches out after Christ, He will reveal Himself in powerโ (Steps to Christ, p. 65). Therefore, โOur great adversary is constantly seeking to keep the troubled soul away from Godโ (Prayer, p. 270). He knows that if we separate from God, we will slip into sin.
In the last part of the Lordโs Prayer, Jesus is trying to underline the secret of power and victory. He says that our single hope is to always be in Jesus and have Jesus in us, to never separate, never depart. โChrist in you, the hope of gloryโ
(Col. 1:27, NKJV).
Alone we donโt have the power to change and develop a new heart. But the promise is clear and secure: โ[He who is in Christ] is a new creationโ (2 Cor. 5:17, NKJV).
So how do you check yourself to see where you are in your spiritual journey? Jesus says we can know by our fruit (Matt. 7:16). How do you produce fruit? By being continually connected with Christ (John 15:1โ5) and being filled with His Spirit
(Gal. 5:22, 23).
โA profession of religion places men in the church, but the character and conduct show whether they are in continual connection with Christโ (The Desire of Ages, p. 676). And if you remain continually in Him, you donโt need to understand
how He works; you just need to trust Him. He saves all those who come to Him (Heb. 7:25).
โThe only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heartโ (The Desire of Ages, p. 324).
God is calling you to pray without ceasing, to constantly call on the Name of the Lord, to walk with Him, and, in continual awareness of His presence and total dependance on Him, to never separate from Him. That is your only strength. And He
promises that if you draw near to God, โHe will draw near to youโ (James 4:8, NKJV).
Letโs pray together.
Lord, please keep us far from temptations that could separate us from You. Teach us to flee from the selfish desires that entice us, and turn our eyes to Your spotless character. Help us to hate what you hate and love what you love.