Wednesday, March 9
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…
Temptation. Oh, sweet temptation. We all know its seductive pull, that quick fix, feel good, easy out laced with danger that makes us want to go where, in our heart of hearts, we know we have no business, but want to anyway. We find ourselves inventing all manner of reasons why this time it’s not really wrong. Take for instance this guy:
We all know right from wrong…the rules are pretty clear. Thou shalt not….and yet, it can’t really mean this time, can it? It doesn’t literally mean that, right? I mean, who’s going to even know? And if no one knows, no one is really hurt by this, and isn’t that what matters? And hey listen, the government‘s just going to use my money to launch invasions I don’t believe in, so why should I declare that cash payment for that little job on the side and feed the coffers of the war machine? It’s actually morally better not to pay taxes that support that….and besides, those big corporations never pay their fair share what with all the loopholes and shelters they have, so why should I have to pay such a large percentage of my hard earned money? Nobody declares income there’s no paper trail to….nobody but a fool, anyway, and I’m no fool.
Or maybe you know this person:
And you know, I love my wife, I really do, but this woman at work, man, she makes me feel young again, makes me feel like a million bucks when she laughs at my jokes and looks at me like she thinks I’m something. Twenty years of marriage, and don’t get me wrong, we’ve had some good times, but let’s face it, the spark is gone, and don’t we all need that, need to feel special, need to feel loved? And it’s not like this is just some sex thing; I think I’m really falling in love, and how can love ever be wrong? I mean, it’s ridiculous to think you can get all of your needs met from one person. Just because you love one person doesn’t mean you can’t love someone else in a different way. In a more perfect world…..
And we all know this next person- seems harmless enough, right?
Yeah, I know what the doctor says. Don’t eat this, don’t drink that, don’t smoke, don’t do anything fun at all. Why even bother to live? Frankly, I’d rather be dead than give up everything that gives me pleasure. Besides, how can just one brownie hurt? Yeah, just one of those, and maybe a tiny glass of that nice little rosé to wash it down…
None of these scenarios may be your story, but we all have a story; we all know where our particular weaknesses lie. Whether we give in to the siren call or not, we all know what it feels like to be torn between our sense of what’s right and our desire to do otherwise. And that doesn’t make us bad people; it makes us…human.
I don’t believe it’s God who’s leading us there, though. Rather, we lead ourselves into temptation when we indulge the urge to allow our selfish, short-term desires to rule our behavior. It’s me, it’s me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer….
But I do believe that God can help deliver us from giving in to our less noble thoughts and desires. It’s funny how the times I most need God’s help are the times I am most tempted to turn away from God. Yet getting real with God, confessing my temptations as well as my sins, is about the best way I know to open the door to becoming the person I believe God wants me to be, and ultimately, I want to be. For one thing, before I can get real with God, I have to get real with myself. Most of the time, I know what I should do or not do- I just come up with every reason possible why this time is an exception. And if I really don’t know for sure, taking it to God is usually the way to find out. If only I’m willing to listen, that still small voice will come straight at me with the truth. Most of the time, it’s a truth I already knew. It’s me, it’s me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer….
God of Deliverance, when I’m leading myself into temptation, hear my confession. Take pity on me, and forgive my foolish ways, full of rationalization and weakness. Deliver me from myself and lead me into the self you want me to be. I know this isn’t the last time I’ll be having this talk with you, so thanks for your patience.
Amen
Willie Sordillo