"And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." Amen. Matthew 6:13
There is a notion that permeates much of the thinking in our culture and pervades our education systems. It is the belief that human beings are essentially good and it is up to the government to create the proper environment, the proper education, the proper diet, the proper health and social justice to bring out that inherent goodness.
There is a notion that permeates much of the thinking in our culture and pervades our education systems. It is the belief that human beings are essentially good and it is up to the government to create the proper environment, the proper education, the proper diet, the proper health and social justice to bring out that inherent goodness.
You may recognize this idea as secular humanism. It is the religion of our post-Christian, anti-Christian modern social order. As nice as it sounds and as wistful as it may be secular humanism has no basis in reality and doesn't square with the record of human behavior or human history.
In fact, human history records that our race has its origin in a perfect environment, a paradise called Eden! And in the midst of that perfect world which was created to bring them joy and fulfullment in the presence of their Holy Creator and God, they committed a deliberate act of disobedience and lost their holiness before God and passed their sinful nature to every succeeding generation up to our present day. So, an idlyllic world that met all the conditions Secular Humanists say will lead to goodness, became the place of origin for the evil human nature each of us have inherited.
Jesus taught that we are sinners by nature and that sinful nature alienates us from a God Who is holy. Left untreated, the human nature will lead us to a lifetime of spiritual separation from God, loneliness, futulity and sinfulness.
One of the purposes for which God gave His sons to die for the sins of billions yet to come is to provide us with the power to overcome the destructive tendencies of a sinful mind and heart.
Jesus is acknowledging the falled human nature when He taught His disciples how to pray the Lord's Prayer. From this statement we can understand - There Is Powerful Evil Within Us, "And do not lead us into temptation....."
It is a heart problem – I have a sinful heart
It is a head problem – I have a sinful mind
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:1-3
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2
The corrupt human mind does not think what pleases God but schemes ways to get what it wants. Until you allow God to transform your mind and put it under the control of His Spirit it will continue to lead you into temptations.
It is a habit problem – I have sinful habits
"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21
When your heart is sinful and your mind is corrupt, your habits and behavior will reflect that selfish, sinful nature.
C. S. Lewis once said, "A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only good people only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is."
You knew it was harder to do the right thing that to do the wrong thing. You already struggle with pleasing God and living a godly life. You are well aware how powerful temptation can be. Know you know why - it is your sinful heart, your sinful head, and your sinful habits. That is your nature!
So, how can you ever hope to resist temptation? How can you be lead away from temptation and sin? Only by a SUPERNATURAL change in your heart, your mind and your behavior. If you do what you have always done you will get what you have always had - bad decisions, bad judgement, troubled relationships, spiritual bondage and guilt, and empty living.
Time for a change?
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1
"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." Galatians 5:16-17
You knew it was harder to do the right thing that to do the wrong thing. You already struggle with pleasing God and living a godly life. You are well aware how powerful temptation can be. Know you know why - it is your sinful heart, your sinful head, and your sinful habits. That is your nature!
So, how can you ever hope to resist temptation? How can you be lead away from temptation and sin? Only by a SUPERNATURAL change in your heart, your mind and your behavior. If you do what you have always done you will get what you have always had - bad decisions, bad judgement, troubled relationships, spiritual bondage and guilt, and empty living.
Time for a change?
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1
"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." Galatians 5:16-17
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