“…but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:13
In this final Petition of the Lord’s Prayer we are asking the Lord to deliver us from every evil that effects our minds, bodies and spirit all for the sake of the preservation of our soul. We are also asking that He give us the strength to face every trial and temptation and to not be overcome by its power. As we are asking God to do this work, we are automatically strengthened because we are relying on Him and His power. As fallen people living in a fallen world we are not able to resist temptation on our own, it requires the grace of God.
St. Paul tells the Church in Corinth, “(God) will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” I Corinthians 10:13. What an encouraging passage of Scripture this is for our daily walk. God is with us especially when we feel weak and gives us the power to overcome through His Spirit. As we rely on the power of prayer and His Holy Word and trust in the promises of our Baptism and the gifts of the Holy Meal, we are more than conquerors in any trial we face.
The wonderful truth of this Petition is that even when we do fall to temptation and into sin, God’s grace in forgiveness is ever ready to restore us. He has already delivered us from the power of evil when He died on the cross. Sin, death and evil will not have the last word! Even as we face battles of daily sin, Jesus has won the war for us. Praise God!
Know that you are loved!
Peace and Joy,
Pastor Kilian