Have you ever considered what is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer? In the Good News recorded by Matthew, Jesus says this is how we should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.*
When we read, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” in context we can see that it makes sense to say: You don’t lead us into temptation but You deliver us from the evil one.
Another thing about the text that’s interesting is that evidence strongly suggests that the word “one” at the end of the sentence, doesn’t belong there. That means we can read the text like this:
You don’t lead us into temptation but You deliver us from evil.
Now I believe that Satan is a real being, he is the destroyer, the tempter, the enemy of life and the source of evil but take a look at James 1: 13
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
What are we tempted by? Our own evil desires.
Satan is our enemy but sometimes I imagine him saying, “Hey, don’t blame me, you did that all on your own.”
Today, would you consider taking responsibility for the damage your evil desires have caused?
cultural atheist 