Answers to "Ask Mike" Questions
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34. My question concerns the Lord's Prayer. I know it says this is how we should pray to the Father. I also know that God never tempts us. Why does [Matthew 6] vs. 13 ask the Father not to lead us into temptation when we already know he won't?
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The word translated "temptation" in the NIV (and most other translations) can also mean "trial." While God does not put temptation in our way (James 1:13), and he does not allow Christians to be tempted beyond that which men can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13), he very well may allow us or even lead us into trial. In this case, however, it would be trial with a good result. God sometimes uses suffering and trial to discipline and to shape character. One must be careful here because not all trial can be traced to God -- sometimes it results from our own sinful action, living in a fallen world, or the sinful acts of others. Even then, the believer knows that "...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (from Romans 8:28 KJV). God does not tempt any man, but he permits trials. Jesus taught us to pray that God would not choose to lead us into difficult situations.