Deliver Us From Evil

ONE

In the last line of the Our Father Jesus teaches to pray “Deliver us from evil.”

What is the greatest evil we face in the world? I’ll give you three guesses… Nope, you’re wrong.

The greatest evil from which we need to be delivered, is sin.

And the source of all sin, hence the source of all evil is pride.  Pride is all the ways we try to validate our existence, prove our worth, and find our identity apart from God.

When you think of your identity, what do you associate it with most? Your profession, some accomplishment or attribute, that you are a parent or grandparent?

Ask yourself – what is the one thing you fear most to lose? It could be that we fear losing it because that thing gives us value; and without it – we are nothing - we do not belong.

What is that thing for you?

TWO

If the thing that you most associate your identity with or think makes you valuable is anything other than God – then you are in deep trouble.

Unless you know and accept that you are valued and loved by God, unless you know that God looks at you and says “You make the world a better place just by being in it” then you can’t be sure it is true. We all need something more solid to base our identity and worth upon.

Professions come to an end, accomplishments fade, children and grandchildren need us less and we become irrelevant.

And to us to base our worth on the opinion of others. People are fickle – they are constantly changing their opinion of you. Your value in the eyes of the world is always trending up and down.

If there is no guarantee of your value, then you can’t be sure it’s true, and you will spend all your time and energy trying to make it true, all your effort trying to convince others it is true and fearing any suggestion that it might not be true.

THREE

The other problem of seeking our identity and worth apart from God is that our defects, sins, limitations, deficiencies, failures scream at us that we are worthless.

Now here is where sin becomes a real problem. Sin makes us doubt our claim to goodness and validation. Sin challenges our sense of self-worth. That is why we can’t admit our sins and it's why people are not interested in Jesus and religion. Admitting our sin and our need for a Savior is the greatest threat to our ego and our self-worth.

But - Deep down we know the truth – we know we are a mess and our defects tell us we are not valuable.

Then what is the solution?

Humility is the antidote for pride but we misunderstand humility. It means two things:

A.  I am not God and I have limits.

B.  I am God’s immeasurably beloved and precious child. I am worthwhile, I have gifts, talents, and strengths that are needed for the good of others.

The fact that I have limits is not a downer – it is a source of joy. I don’t have to try to be God. I don’t have to be perfect. I can admit and accept I have limits. This takes the pressure off, which allows me to be even more creative and use the gifts God has given me as His beloved son - and this is a source of joy.

 FOUR

Your personal value and your goodness is indestructible.  It comes from God. You don’t have to do anything to make yourself worthwhile. We should never feel the panic to justify our existence or escape it in ways that lead to sin. Now - all the pressure is off to make yourself matter.

That being true - God wants us to pursue and eventually reach perfection by means of education and practice of virtue, relationships and work, and suffering and experiencing beauty. Sleep, pray, make great meals and eat; put initiative and intentionality into relationships and enjoy friendships. Create and work and build. Think of what God does. God creates and then He watches over what He created and brings it to perfection. You are invited to do the same with Him and by doing what your Father does you become more like Him. So even though you don’t need to do anything to be of value, as God’s kids we get to do and pursue all kinds of fantastic things and become amazing people and pursue the good things of life and delight in them because God made us for delight and not for sorrow.

FIVE

Gratitude is the bridge to move us from pride to humility.

Each day reflect on these questions: For what am I grateful; and to whom I am grateful? These good things are the concrete manifestations of God’s love for me. Then ask, how have I responded to His love? With gratitude I recognize my need for God and the good things coming from Him to me.

We grow in gratitude by becoming aware of the good in each present moment. The good of the person I am with, the nature I am walking in, the work I am doing, the meal I am preparing or eating, this time with God in friendship and prayer. Find the good of each moment and delight in it and you will grow in gratitude.

In this way Happiness follows gratitude.