There is a word in the Lord’s Prayer that is a common word, but at the same time, it isn’t.  The word lead is one that you have probably used many times.  If you have a dog, you have told him to “heel” and then you would lead him as you walk.  As a child, there is a good chance that you played the game, follow the leader.

The word lead is uncommon because the form of the word used in the Lord’s Prayer (lead us not into temptation) means something else.  The word Jesus used is one that means to bring or to carry. 

Using the Shepherd-sheep analogy, this word suggests the personal involvement of the Shepherd for the benefit of His sheep.  The idea is not that Jesus will simply lead us, but that He will carry us through the shadows and show us the way.

Jesus, our Shepherd, knows what we need, and He knows how to lead.  The truth of this statement is found in Hebrews 4:14-16:  Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin.  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Here’s a thought to keep you thinking.  We can know that He knows, because He has already been where we are going.