The readings from Joshua and John share a common setting. In both, people are being tested. Whom will they follow? Joshua puts the choice to the people of Israel bluntly, saying, “Choose this day whom you will serve.” Jesus does not demand a choice in so many words, but his teaching has reached a point where his disciples can no longer follow with their rational minds. What should they do? Go ahead with Jesus on faith, or leave him and turn back to familiar ground? This morning I want to focus on the issue of testing, because I want to clear up a common misunderstanding in the Lord’s Prayer; that is, the final supplication which says, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (more…)
