The Thief’s Purpose is to Steal and Kill and Destroy

February 26, 2015

The Thief’s Purpose is to Steal and Kill and Destroy

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Matthew 6:13 NIV

The mother of the disciples James and John (the sons of Zebedee), came with her sons to Jesus and asked a favor, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” James and John quickly replied, “Oh yes, we are able!” Jesus then affirmed that indeed they would share in his suffering but as for their mother’s request, he deferred to his Father who is in charge of Kingdom seating arrangements. (Matthew 20:20-23)

The other disciples were indignant when they heard about James and John’s request and Jesus turned the incident into a teaching session about servant leadership. Jesus could have reminded them that after he was baptized he “was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry” (Matthew 4:1-2). Those wilderness experiences inspired his prayer, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Jesus teaches us that we have an enemy, the devil, who is the adversary of God. This enemy, whom Jesus referred to as the thief, has but one mission: “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10a). Jesus also tells us that the devil “was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44b). Our journey confronts us with daily choices of whether we will be led by our sinful nature or the Holy Spirit. Seeking the life in Christ is difficult. Even when we have a measure of success putting to death the deeds of our sinful nature through the power of the Spirit (Romans 8:13), we have an adversary who is out to steal and destroy our witness. Perhaps this is what G. K. Chesterton had in mind when he noted, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.”

This prayer of Jesus is not that we will avoid temptation or attacks of the evil one. This prayer of Jesus is a reminder that life is a mine field of obstacles to our faith. However, because Jesus teaches us to pray, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one,” this prayer reminds us of Jesus’ promise, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms is available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ  is available as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.