Ever Watchful

Friday, December 1, 2000

1 Peter 5:8 – Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. (MSG)

Psalm 119:105 – Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me, and keep me from stumbling. (The Living Bible)

The other night, the dogs and I almost got caught in the dark on an unlit road winding through the forest. Upon arriving home from work, I quickly glanced at the setting sun before starting out and figured we had enough time to complete our walk before night fell. Thus I didn't bother taking my flashlight or putting on my reflective vest. Before we had traversed half of our route, however, I knew I had made a mistake. The beginning of Standard Time had caught me napping, and the only way to keep ahead of the creeping darkness was to run for it.

The early darkness of Standard Time is not the only thing that can creep up on us. The scriptures remind us that the devil loves to catch us napping — napping in regards to sin. Sin can creep up on us just as quickly and unexpectedly as night-time, once the sun begins to set, if we are not ever watchful.

We need to be watchful of the company we keep; watchful of the things with which we fill up our minds; watchful of the words we speak; watchful of the time we must choose to set aside for fellowship with Jesus and His Word.

His words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of us, and keep us from stumbling, — stumbling into the darkness of sin.

His fellowship not only urges us to run from temptation that we might live godly lives, but also draws others to Him as the light of His love reflects through us to an increasingly darkened world.

Prayer: The world is darkening quickly, Lord, with the ever-increasing sins of mankind. Create in us an ever-watchful spirit in regards to sin. Bless us with hearts that crave Your fellowship and the light of Your word that we might increasingly be reflections of your love to all those who see us and with whom we meet. In Jesus' name. Amen.

James 1:12-15 – Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer. (MSG)

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada

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