Does God tempt us?

Yes.

I love it.

Half said yes. Half said no.

Well, if he doesn't tempt us, then why do we pray in the Lord's prayer and say,

lead us not into temptation?

We're talking to God the Father now.

We're saying, God, Father, lead us not into temptation.

Now I'm going to tell you up front that this question has plagued theologians for nearly 2,000 years.

Genuine scholars have fought on both sides of the issue. And part of the problem is basic misunderstanding of the term. It's basic

misunderstanding of the word. In fact, this probably is the most controversial sentence or

petition in the Lord's Prayer. Our Father, oh, what a privilege. In heaven, oh, what a place. He's there and we're

going to be with him there. Hello, it be your name. Oh, what a joyful thing to do to bless the

name of the Lord. Your kingdom come into our lives and into our businesses and our old homes. Oh, what an incredible

longing desire in all of our hearts who love the Lord. Your will be done on earth as it is in

heaven. What a form and a cry of surrender. Give us this day our daily bread. What an expression of dependence upon our heavenly

daddy. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. That's a challenge to be

like God and be imitators of God. But lead us not into temptation. It's a little bit

perplexing when you really think about it. And this perplexity becomes even more pertinent

when we compare verses 2 and 3 of James chapter 1 with verses 13 and 14 of the same chapter.

James, Chapter 1.

I want you to mark those verses in your Bibles.

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