LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION

  

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION

 

Around the Year with Emmet Fox

 

February 18

 

“Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil”

Matthew 6:13

 

Many earnest people feel that God could not

lead anyone into temptation in any circumstances,

and that Jesus could not have said

what he is represented to have said,

and so, some other phrasing is sought

more in accordance

with the general tone of his teaching.

All this however, is unnecessary.

The facts are these—the more you pray,

the more sensitive you become,

and the more powerful are your prayers.

But you also become susceptible to forms of temptation

that simply do not beset those at an earlier stage.

Subtle and powerful temptations await;

temptations to work for self-glory,

 for personal distinction;

temptation to personal preferences

other than perfect impartiality.

Beyond all other temptations

the deadly sin of spiritual pride.

Many who have surmounted all other testings,

have lapsed into self-righteousness that has fallen

like a curtain of steel between them and God.

Some old writers

were so vividly sensible of these dangers

that they spoke of the soul as being challenged

by various tests as it traversed the upward road.

The traveler was halted at various turnpike bars,

and tested by some ordeal to determine

whether he were ready to advance any further.

If he succeeded in passing the test

he was allowed to continue upon his way

with the blessing of the challenger.

Now, some less experienced souls,

eager for rapid advancement,

have rashly desired to be subjected immediately

to all kinds of tests, and have even looked about,

seeking for difficulties to overcome.

Forgetting our Lords injunction

 

Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God

(Matthew 4:7),

 

they have virtually challenged him

to-give them difficulties.

And so, Jesus has inserted this clause,

in which we pray that

we may not have to meet anything

that is too much for us

at the present level of our understanding.