“We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 Jn 5:19). The prayer “lead us not into temptation” continues on with “deliver us from evil”.
Are you aware of the many evil forces working in the world today? Consider the many afflictions tormenting humankind, the natural disasters, calamities, wars and conflicts, moral degradation, injuries, mishaps, and all the predicaments of a world plagued by sin and suffering. Are you aware of the destructive work of evil to turn the world upside down, dismantle the good and shatter the ‘shalom’, that perfect peace, harmony and wellness that God designs for his creation? How has the world been impacted? How are we to cope with tribulations? Reflect on Eph 6:12-18 again, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood… but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”.
Then there are the inner demons lurking inside us and the evil that we have to face. Didn’t Jesus just remind us to pray about our debts, trespasses and temptations? Numerous OT passages tell us to fear the Lord and to hate and shun evil. Paul told us that there was a war waging in him, “what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do, I keep on doing… when I want to do good, evil is right there with me” (Rm 7:19, 21). Did you ever struggle with such inner turmoil, caught in a dilemma feeling torn between good and evil? Are you aware of the schemes of the evil one using all kinds of distress and temptations to crush your faith and tear you apart from God? Pray to God about your struggles and what’s troubling you.
So in his struggle with sin, Paul cried out, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” But then he declared right away, “Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rm 7:24-25). Who can deliver us from evil and save us from the grip of sin and the wrath of God? “Nothing but the blood of Jesus”, as the old hymn goes. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21). Because Christ died on the cross, we are justified by grace through faith. Because Christ rose from the dead, “death has been swallowed up in victory… Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Cor 15:54-57)
Meditate again on Christ’s great love, his suffering and sacrifice for us, from Is 53:
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering…
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows…
he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. …
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering.
By the saving grace of our Lord, we can now approach God’s throne of mercy. We can bare our hearts and souls before our Father, seeking forgiveness and mercy for our depravity, desperation and struggles in a fallen world frustrated by sin and evil. The Lord’s Prayer draws us into the loving care of our Father and the glorious hope we have in Him. Let us submit with trust and obedience to his sovereignty and good will, as we pray: May your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
With prayer,
Josephine Chow