Posted on

“And Lead Us Not…”?

Last week the Broken Messenger had a great post regarding the Lord’s Prayer, but read that one for yourself…
I want to touch on one particular verse – Matthew 6:13a:

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…

…I have been praying this prayer since I was a little girl, but lately it bothers me when I say: “And lead us not into temptation…” Why does it bother me? Because in James 1:13-14 we read:

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

So, I did a little research online. (I really like those online study tools like StudyLight.org. This way you don’t need an entire library at home). This is what I found and it helps me to understand this passage much better:

The word here translated “temptation” (Peirasmon) means originally “trial” or “test” as in James 1:2. Braid Scots has it: “And lat us no be siftit.” But God does test or sift us(emphasis mine), though he does not tempt us to evil. No one understood temptation so well as Jesus for the devil tempted him by every avenue of approach to all kinds of sin, but without success. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus will say to Peter, James, and John: “Pray that ye enter not into temptation” (Luke 22:40). That is the idea here. Here we have a “Permissive imperative” as grammarians term it. The idea is then: “Do not allow us to be led into temptation.” There is a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13), but it is a terrible risk (taken from Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament)

Yes, the life of a Christian is not without any trials and temptation, but Jesus has set the example how to withstand those temptations: Holding on to the Word of God and trust Him that He will bring us home…
In His grip,

Posted on

2005 Blogs of Beauty Awards

BoB Award SampleHear! Hear!
The 1st “Blogs of Beauty Awards” is hosted & conducted by Sallie at Two Talent Living. This award honors women who make a difference in the Blogging world. Please visit Sallie’s Blog, review the categories and nominate your favorite women Bloggers (men can vote, but not participate in this particular Blog Award).
I already picked my favorite women Bloggers for different categories. This way, I can thank those wonderful ladies, who provide encouragement & spread cheers on a regular basis…
Thank you, Sallie (sorry that I posted three comments; I guess I was just too excited about this award) for undertaking this huge task; and thank you Blest with Sons for posting the link on your Blog this morning. I hope & pray that this will become an annual event…

Posted on

He Missed his Calling…

Usually I feature my personal reads Fridays on My Lighter Side, but I just couldn’t wait until tomorrow. Check out this blogger, “The Broken Messenger” – found his link this past Saturday on BE. I think that he missed his calling and should have been a pastor.
Check out especially this post, very insightful and powerful; that is my humble opinion. Please do check out his blog, it will be worth your while, I promise.
In His grip…

Posted on

Why Eph2810…

BibleSome of you might wonder why I named my Blog Eph2810; some may not be surprised (especially people who know me) when they read my Blog.
You see, I am Bible believing Christian (Lutheran to be exact) and I didn’t understand the gift of God until 7 years ago when I started attending a Lutheran church here in Arizona and my son started his confirmation class. In Germany, till this day, in most of your Lutheran churches the “Law” is more preached than the “Gospel”; which is strange, since one of the biggest and influential reformers was Martin Luther.
At first I thought that I never paid attention in church when I was younger, but believe me I did; I noticed it again when I was in Germany last year and attended the church my mom & sister belong to.

So, here I am in confirmation class with my son (parents at my home congregation are strongly encouraged to attend the class with their children), I finally understood the grace of God…WOW – what a revelation that was to me… There it was – right in front of me and I never had noticed it before…

There is absolutely nothing I can do to earn my way to heaven. No matter how much I put in the offering plate (I do tithe though) or how much I am involved in church. God loves me anyway and it was by His grace that I am saved, not my merit, but His. No matter, how many times I stumble, He picks me up, dusts me off and says: “My grace is sufficient for you”. I am cleansed through the precious blood of Christ. Ah, what a comfort!
So, since that revelation, Ephesians 2:8-10 are my favorite Bible verses and always will be until I meet my Lord in person and can thank Him for what He has done for me…

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
(Eph 2:8-10 NIV © IBS)