Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation… The devil has a great many servants, and they are all busy, active ones. They ride in the railway trains, they sail on the steamboats, they swarm along the highways of the country and the thoroughfares of the cities; they do business in the busy marts, they enter houses and break open shops; they are everywhere, and in all places. Some are so vile-looking that one instinctively turns from them in disgust; but some are so sociable, insinuating, and plausible, that they almost deceive at times the very elect. Among this latter class are to be found the devil's four chief servants. Here are their names. "There's no danger." That is one. "Only this once." That is another. "Everybody does so." That is the third. "By-and-by." That is the fourth. When tempted from the path of strict rectitude, and "There's no danger" urges you on, say, "Get thee behind me, Satan." When tempted to give Sabbath up to pleasure, or to do a little labour in the workshop, or the counting-house, and "Only this once" or "Everybody does so" whispers at your elbow, do not listen for a moment to the dangerous counsel. If the Holy Spirit has fastened upon your conscience the solemn warnings of a faithful teacher or friend, and brought to mind a tender mother's prayers for your conversion, do not let "By-and-by" steal away your confidence, and, by persuading you to put away serious things, rob you of your life. All four are cheats and liars. They mean to deceive you, and cheat your soul of heaven. "Behold!" says God, "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." He has no promises for "By-and-by." (Dr. Talmage.) Parallel Verses KJV: And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. |
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