GUARDING YOUR LIFESTYLE
Matthew 6:13

For the past several weeks, the focus of our study has been upon the model of prayer known as The Lord's Prayer.  We have noticed that Jesus focused upon the needs of our physical life, expressed with the petition for our daily bread.  And Jesus focused upon the needs of our spiritual life, urging us to pray for forgiveness of sin.  Now, we see Jesus focus upon the needs of our moral life when He states, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

The late Bishop Fulton Sheen remarked that we are not tempted because we are evil.  We are tempted because we are human.  Another author remarked that the person who is no longer tempted has long since been laid to rest.  He concluded that temptation is part of the price of being human.

Now, before we look at this final thought in The Lord's Prayer, it is good to be reminded that being tempted is not sin.  To be tempted is the natural course of life.  You might ask me how I know that being tempted is not sin?  Well, we all know that Jesus was tempted by Satan, and yet the Bible affirms that He did not sin, for Hebrews 4:15 states, For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  The act of being tempted is not sin.  The yielding to temptation is sin. 

From where do temptations come?  First, they can arise from outside sources.  I think we can all identify with the influence that can come from peer pressure.  This is the kind of temptation Daniel and his three friends faced there in Babylon.  Away from home, these four young men found themselves under the strong temptation to do as all the rest of their friends were doing, namely conforming to the Babylonian standards being set before them.  But, we read where Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.  He and his three friends did not yield to temptation.  And God honored them with the privilege of high responsibility within the Babylonian government.  While in my days in the pastorate, I constantly admonished the young people within my congregation of the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:33, Do not be deceived, bad company corrupts good morals.  Friends, the good apples within a bushel can never make one bad apple good, but that one bad apple can soon make all the good apples bad.  How we need to be careful of the companions we associate with. 

Secondly, temptations can also come from inside of us.  Perhaps it is a habit that is out of control.  Perhaps it is a temperament trait that, left unchecked, can ruin our life.  It might also come from a strong sense of over confidence.  Here I think of Samson who certainly was filled with confidence in his own abilities, leading eventually to his downfall.

Friends, how can we face temptations victoriously?  That will be the focus of our next study. 

Father, I am reminded of the little Sunday School chorus I grew up singing - Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin.  Everyday we encounter those little temptations with which Satan would love to trip us up.  Father, help us to recognize them and to seek Your strength for the victory over them.  We pray this in Christ's name. Amen.

 

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