“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:13
A good look at the phrase “deliver us from evil” seems to beg the question of what is the evil from which we are asking to be delivered?
- It could be a salvation statement that says, “I turn away from evil and run into redemption through Christ.’
- It could be a statement of daily life that says, “Help me live a godly life rather than be controlled by my flesh.”
- It could be a statement of eternal life when we will be permanently delivered from this evil world.
As I have studied and written this series, I have tried to stay focused on answering the question “What does this mean for me today?” I will therefore dig into the second statement of daily living a Spirit led life. The Aramaic translation supports this focus.
In Aramaic this petition reads, “but let us be freed from that what keeps us off from our true purpose.” In context, the full statement is, “Let us not be lost in superficial things (materialism, common temptations) but let us be freed from that what keeps us off from our true purpose.”
Satan is the one who would love to knock you off the sweet spot of living as who God created you to be doing what God created you to do. He will use superficial things like materialism and common temptations. He will use thoughts, words, situations, and anything in his power to harm, hinder, or hurt the amazing person God created you to be. He will do what he can to deter and distract you from your God given purpose—why God created you in the first place.
That is the evil we face in the world daily: the evil that works to knock us out and take us off God’s path for us.
The good news is that God is at work delivering you from evil 24 hours a day, seven days a week. God is at work when you, like Joseph, can say,
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Genesis 50:20
- God delivers you from evil when He works all things together for your good.
- (Romans 8:28)
- God delivers you from that kind of evil when you experience the peace that passes understanding in the midst of a trial (Philippians 4:7).
- God delivers you from evil when His lovingkindness never ends and His compassion is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23)
- God delivers you from evil when you rely on His sufficient grace—His empowering Presence enabling you to be who He created you to be doing what He created you to do. (2 Corinthians 10:9)
- God delivers you from evil when He does the impossible on your behalf. (Luke 1:37)
- God delivers you from evil when He strengthens you to overcome. (John 16:33, Philippians 4:13)
Yes, this petition can be a cry for help in the midst of life’s challenges.
It can also be a time to remember all the ways God has already delivered you from the schemes of the evil one.
Trust me, when you begin to consider and count the ways God works in your life to deliver you from evil, you will soon be shouting for joy.
That’s the kind of good God we serve.