Lead us not into temptation

[stevevw]

I was thinking Jesus was a master psychologist. Not just a psychologist but a master at knowing the human heart and the power of sin. I have been thinking about the words deeply in the Lord Prayer and I think they all have important meaning. But the part "lead us not into temptation" I think is crucial.

We all know about forgiving others who tresspass against us as we are forgiven by God or "give us our daily bread" which is important for our sustigence and strength both physically and spiritually as they are related. That Gods will be done on earth as in Heaven. We all know this and aim to live Heaven on earth.

But I think "lead us not into temptation" and by extention "deliver us from the evil one" are central because they are dealing with not just sin but the temptation of sin. The mindset and traps through rationalisation that lead us to sin. These happen well before the sin. We can become aware of the thinking and behaviours that we often do subconsciously that can lead us to sin.

That's why Christ said that its not just the sin of adultery but the lust in the heart. Or its not the sin of murder but the anger you hold in your heart. In your subconscious because you have not let it go and acknowledged it to God.

Its recognising those signs that allows us not to be lead into temptation or rather allowing that temptation to fester into sin. Theres no magical spell God puts over us to insulate ourselves from our fallen nature and sin. Its the willingness to completly handover our rationalisations which is a continual endeavour. We peel away the layers of our subconscious rationalisation and expose them to Christs light.

But Christ is the master at revealing the truth and shining that light on our darkest corners if we listen. I think in doing so we also gain the power to expell those thoughts with the reality of Christs light. Just like Christ when tempted stood on Gods word even though He may have been tempted as a man. He cut to the chase and used Gods word like a sword to defeat the temptation and satan.

Christ knows us and our weaknesses just like we know His power to overcome temptation by living in His truth and light.

 

[eleos1954]

I was thinking Jesus was a master psychologist. Not just a psychologist but a master at knowing the human heart and the power of sin. I have been thinking about the words deeply in the Lord Prayer and I think they all have important meaning. But the part "lead us not into temptation" I think is crucial.

We all know about forgiving others who tresspass against us as we are forgiven by God or "give us our daily bread" which is important for our sustigence and strength both physically and spiritually as they are related. That Gods will be done on earth as in Heaven. We all know this and aim to live Heaven on earth.

But I think "lead us not into temptation" and by extention "deliver us from the evil one" are central because they are dealing with not just sin but the temptation of sin. The mindset and traps through rationalisation that lead us to sin. These happen well before the sin. We can become aware of the thinking and behaviours that we often do subconsciously that can lead us to sin.

That's why Christ said that its not just the sin of adultery but the lust in the heart. Or its not the sin of murder but the anger you hold in your heart. In your subconscious because you have not let it go and acknowledged it to God.

Its recognising those signs that allows us not to be lead into temptation or rather allowing that temptation to fester into sin. Theres no magical spell God puts over us to insulate ourselves from our fallen nature and sin. Its the willingness to completly handover our rationalisations which is a continual endeavour. We peel away the layers of our subconscious rationalisation and expose them to Christs light.

But Christ is the master at revealing the truth and shining that light on our darkest corners if we listen. I think in doing so we also gain the power to expell those thoughts with the reality of Christs light. Just like Christ when tempted stood on Gods word even though He may have been tempted as a man. He cut to the chase and used Gods word like a sword to defeat the temptation and satan.

Christ knows us and our weaknesses just like we know His power to overcome temptation by living in His truth and light.

He cut to the chase and used Gods word like a sword to defeat the temptation and satan.

Yes, and we are called to do the same ... use the word of God as a sword and shield against the temptations of the evil one.

 

[stevevw]

Yes, and we are called to do the same ... use the word of God as a sword and shield against the temptations of the evil one.

I say this because I think especially in todays world of compromise and rationalisations where sin can be ratrionalised away as ok. Or the sin of ommissions which are easier to rationalise as not sin because your not actually doing anything.

I think todays world has many more temptations and theres a lot more white noise going on where the airways are filled with so many ideaologies and narratives even those using the church or even Christ as a claim to truth that can confuse people. Especially the young who are more supceptible to ideological thinking.

The internet and social media is responsible for a lot of this. We live is a Postmodernist relative world and the truth has been lost.

But you are right now is a time more than ever to be clear and stand on Gods word and Christs truth and light. It cuts right through the bull lol.