"In the Lord's Prayer, why does Jesus say, 'Lead us not into temptation' when it plainly says in another place that we are not tempted of the Lord?" asked Bill Dotson, who is a Christian, husband, father, retired public educator, adjunct college instructor, gardener, inspirational writer, political conservative, deacon/prayer coordinator, and technology geek. ( www.roadrevelations.org - www.kingdomcoins.org - www.agreetogether.org )
Dr. Shirley's answer: It is true that God does not tempt us to do evil, for the Bible says, "Let no man say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God,' for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one." (James 1:13, WEB.)
However, God does permit us to be tempted by our environment—the devil, other people, and our own sinful desires—even though He Himself does not cause or initiate the temptation.
Why does God allow us to be tempted? God's allowance can be understood when we think about our relationship with our parents when we were growing up. When we grew older and more mature, our parents permitted us to make our own moral decisions, go out, meet new people and interact with others. Our parents permitted our new experiences to build us up and to teach us lessons. They knew that life and its experiences are teaching tools to mature us spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
For the same reason, our Parent in the heaven allows us to be tested by our environment and learn from our mistakes. Thus, when we run into various challenges in life, we should rejoice, for such testing of our faith "produces endurance" and make us "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:3, 4).
When Jesus told us to pray, "Lead us not into temptation," he also told us to say, "but deliver us from the evil one." (Matthew 6:13) Hence, this is not a request for God to help us avoid temptation; but rather, it is a request for God to help us win the battle against temptation, so that we will not be victims but victors. Life is full of tests and challenges. The more places we visit, the more tests we will encounter; the more people we know, the more temptations we will face. We must never underestimate the seductive power of our temptation or overestimate our own ability to overcome it. Instead, in order to have the strength to overcome our temptations, make the right decisions and prevent ourselves from doing what is sinful, we must at all times ask God to help us maintain our stamina and courage to do what is proper and right in times of great temptations.
Rest assured, God will answer your prayer for Him to help you be victorious over temptations, as the Bible says: "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) With God's help, we will have the power to resist the seduction of temptation.
About Dr. Shirley Cheng:
Dr. Shirley Cheng (b. 1983), a blind and physically disabled award-winning author with twenty-seven book awards, proclaimer of Jehovah God's good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, Summa Cum Laude (Highest Honor) graduate with Doctor of Divinity, motivational speaker, self-empowerment expert, poet; author of nine books (including "Do You Love Jehovah?"), contributor to twenty-four, and an editor of one; and a parental rights advocate, has had severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since infancy. Owing to years of hospitalization, she received no education until age eleven. Back then, she knew only her ABCs and very simple English; other than that, her book knowledge was non-existent. However, after only about 180 days of special education in elementary school, she mastered grade level and entered a regular sixth grade class in middle school. Unfortunately, Shirley lost her eyesight at the age of seventeen. After a successful eye surgery, she hopes to earn multiple science doctorates from Harvard University. www.shirleycheng.com
Do you have questions about the Bible? Something you don't understand? Do you need a bit of guidance in developing a relationship with Jehovah? Then Shirley would like to help you! Please contact her via her site at www.shirleycheng.com and she would be more than glad to do her best to answer your questions! Never hesitate to ask questions, for no question about the Bible is ever too small or stupid.
