Deliver us from evil

We come now to the last petition of the Lord's Prayer, which is "deliver us from evil."

This petition is for our protection. We are praying that we would be spared from anything that would cause us harm - from an unruly person bent on doing us harm or from someone who is out to take advantage of us.

This phrase could also be translated, "deliver us from the evil one." This translation reminds us that Satan is at work to wreak havoc in our world until the end of time. We read in John 10 that the "thief (Satan) comes to steal, kill, and destroy." Satan will seek everything possible to bring ruin to our own personal lives and also that of the church.

No wonder that Jesus included this petition in the prayer he taught his disciples. Satan is still a present reality. If you don't believe it, just look out into the world today and look at people who were seen as being respectable and upright, and yet were led into personal ruin.

We need to pray this petition. If we want to live as fully as we can as followers of Jesus, we need to be spared from evil.

Next week, I conclude this series on the Lord's Prayer with the special ending that is attached to this prayer.