Lead Us Not Into Temptation

There is a story told of a minister who had a very important meeting downtown. When he arrived at the building, there was no where to park. He was getting desperate as his appointment time was approaching, but still there was no open spots to park. He finally whipped his car into a no parking zone. He got a piece of paper and wrote a note and put it under his wipers. He wrote, "I have circled the block ten times. If I don’t park here, I will miss my appointment." And he closed with this line, "forgive us our trespasses." When he came back he found a ticket that had an accompanying note. With the ticket the policeman had left was this note, "I’ve circled this block for ten years and if I don‘t give you a ticket, I will lose my job." He closed his note, "lead us not into temptation."

In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus is asking us to be lead by God. We are to ask to be lead into a life of righteousness, but also away from the evil one. God does not tempt us, but God allows us to be tried. He puts us in situations that test our faith, but he never sets us up to fail. Pray for God's leading. He will not allow you to be tempted in a way that is more than you can handle. He promises. But in the temptation he is there to help you get out of it - if you want.

Look for God in your temptations - he will deliver you from the evil one.

Sid

My Name

The story is told that Robert E. Lee was approached by some men with a business proposition after the Civil War. The managers from the infamous Louisiana Lottery came to see him and asked if they could use his name in their gambling scheme. They told him that if he agreed to this that he could become rich. Lee straightens up and buttoned his coat and told them, “Gentlemen, I lost my home in this war. I lost my fortune; in fact I lost everything except my name. My name is not for sale and if you gentlemen don’t leave right now, I’m going to break this crutch over your heads.”

How much are you concerned about your name? Even though people will misunderstand, misjudge, and question motive, how is your name doing?

God has given the believer a new name. Take care of it. When you do – God will be proud.

Drugs

I find it amazing that drug companies are advertising on television. The amazing thing to me is that I just can't go out and buy that drug. I would make sense to spend millions of dollars on advertising, if I could just walk into Wal-Mart and get the drug, but I can't. I have to go through a doctor. Now follow me - I am suppose to walk into an examining room and tell a doctor that based on a biased ad from a drug company I feel that I need this drug. Does anyone else see what is wrong with that picture? I thought the doctor was the expert. I thought he knew what would be best for my condition.

Could it be that the doctor is being charmed by the same drug companies? As a side thought, I don't understand why I would want to advise my doctor that I need a drug that may cause me to have all the side-effects that the company says could happen - Duh!

But isn't this the way of the world? We know best. Give us just a little information and we can set our course. The Bible says we don't know what is best. It says that God's ways are not ours. It says that Jesus is the way, not a painless life or numbed existence.

Give your life to God - he's the drug with no side-effects.