Matthew 6: The Sermon on the Mount: Inner Life (5)

Pray Psalm 26.1-3.
Vindicate me, O Lord,
For I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the Lord;
I shall not slip.
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth.

Sing Psalm 26.1-3.
(Aberystwyth: Jesus, Lover of My Soul)
Vindicate me, Lord on high; I have walked within Your Word.
Never wav’ring, though I sigh, I have trusted You, O Lord!
Prove me, Lord, prove even me! Test my heart and try my mind.
Let Your steadfast mercy be in the path for me to find.

Read Matthew 6.1-13; meditate on verse 13.

Prepare.
1. What is temptation? From where does it come?

2. What is available to us for resisting temptation?

Meditate.
The Lord’s Prayer continues its forward-looking aspect, anticipating the spiritual warfare in which we carry out our callings from the Lord.

Temptation is inevitable, but it is not sin. Jesus was tempted, but without sin, as we have seen. God does not lead us into temptation, but we are led into temptation by our own lusts (Jms. 1.13, 14). German theologian Helmut Thielicke defined temptation as finding ourselves at the point of wanting to be disloyal to God. The evil one brings temptation before us, and when we find ourselves there, we have a choice to make.

Either we will continue to seek the Kingdom and will of our Father, or we will yield to the power of the father of lies. Either we will fall through temptation into sin, or we will grow through temptation unto greater righteousness. Only the power of God can allow us to resist the allure of temptation, and we must look through temptation to obedience, in the power and Kingdom of our Father.

God allows us to come into temptation, but He does not lead us into it in such a way that we become ensnared and lose our spiritual footing. When temptation comes, we must recognize it’s the devil, capitalizing on our errant desires, goading us on into temptation and sin; and we must resist him, so that he will flee from us (Jms. 4.17). Thus we may continue on the path of seeking the Kingdom and power of God, so that He is glorified in all we do.

Reflect.
1. Paul said we can always find a “way of escape” when temptations arise (1 Cor. 10.13). What did he mean by that?

2. God can use temptation for good in our lives. Explain.

3. How should we pray when we find ourselves in the midst of temptation? What can keep us from praying in the face of temptation?

“Lead us not into temptation,” that is, do not allow us to be led by the tempter. God forbid that our Lord should seem to be the tempter, as if he were not aware of one’s faith or were eager to upset it! That weakness and spitefulness belongs to the devil. Tertullian (155-250), On Prayer 8.1-3, 5-6

Strengthen me, Lord, to deal with temptation today, so that I…

Pray Psalm 26.4-12.
Seek the Lord for cleansing from sin, and for the strength to resist temptation and seek only His Kingdom throughout the day ahead.

Sing Psalm 26.4-12.
Psalm 26.4-12 (Aberystwyth: Jesus, Lover of My Soul)
Men of falsehood will not sit in my presence, nor will I
suffer any hypocrite to find favor in my eye.
All the wicked I abhor; ‘round Your altar let me stand,
loudly singing evermore of Your gracious, mighty hand.

Lord, I love Your dwelling-place, there where all Your glory shines,
Keep my soul before Your face, lest for sinful ways it pine.
As for me, in righteousness, I shall walk on level ground;
save me, Lord, renew and bless! Let me with Your Church be found!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).