Lead Us Not Into Temptation

"When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.'  For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."  James 1:13-15

"And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one."  Matthew 6:13

Why on earth does Jesus teach us to pray about a situation that James tells us is impossible?  Why, if God cannot tempt, does Jesus teach us to pray that God not lead us into temptation?  Is Pope Francis right in saying that this prayer's wording should be changed?

Well, Matthew records that Jesus was lead into the wilderness to be tempted.

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil."  Matthew 4:1

I don't believe that the Bible can contradict itself and I don't believe that is happening here.  There is some nuance in this passage, I believe.  God may lead us into places of testing where tempting may be present but He Himself is not the tempter.

"Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me."  Psalm 23:4

Following God closely may illicit a war of temptation from the evil one.  The Devil will not like it if you are following God closely.  My football coach used to say, "If you ain't getting blocked you're going the wrong way."

When we are the Shepherd's sheep the Wolf will come looking for us, especially if we are making a difference for the Kingdom.  What we pray is that God will lead us through the valley of the shadow of death, through the perils of sinful temptation and not let us go into temptation.

In the war for the Kingdom we may need to go through enemy lines.  Our prayer is that temptation would not grip us, but that instead we would pass through.  This is not license to live foolishly and rush into tempting situations claiming that God will keep you from temptation.  No, this is an invitation to follow Jesus even into hard places where the temptation to quit, the temptation to abandon the faith is shot at you like a fiery dart by Satan and to keep following King Jesus all while praying that He delivers you from Satan and all his doomed schemes.

Following Christ is not an easy task.  We must pray for the protection and the ability to pass through seasons and situations where temptation rears its head.

"And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one" today.