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Pray That You May Not Enter Temptation - Luke 22:40
Pray That You May Not Enter Temptation - Luke 22:40
Twice in the garden, Jesus instructs the disciples to pray that they may not enter temptation (Luke 22:40, 46). Jesus had previously taught to pray: “'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.'] (Matthew 6:13). Jesus also gave us an example as He prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail when tested by Satan (Luke 22:28-38, esp. vs. 32).
1. Pray that you may not enter temptation. God allows us to be TESTED – through which we gain strength, but He does not tempt us to do evil (James 1: ). Satan TEMPTS with evil to alienate us from God, cp. 1Pet. 5:7). We will, as is everyone, be both tested and tempted. Our response is to pray!
2. Actively avoid situations, places, and people where you know you are tempted with evil. We are not just to “resist” but to “avoid”. Like with bad habits, which are more easily replaced than changed, so temptations are easier to avoid than to resist. Hence we are taught to “Make no provision for the flesh (Rom. 13:14). Evil companions? Avoid them. Known times and places where you are vulnerable? Avoid them.
Cut off the source of such temptation (Matt. 5:29-30). Danger here, for some have taken this literally and thought that self-mutilation is being taught. Most people, if faced with the prospect of cutting off an arm or plucking out an eye, would make the decision of avoiding the sin before it came to that! It is more of realizing how far we ought to go to avoid such sin.
3. Pray for strength of faith – as Jesus did for Peter. Peter struggled with the events of that night but did keep his faith. Later he instructs others: “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” (1Pet. 5:8-9).
4. Pray for one another. Even as Jesus gave us the example with Peter, let us pray – fervently, effectually, continually.
How are you dealing with temptation in your life?
Hugh DeLong
