Sober-minded

Today’s Encouragement is 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

Sometimes it’s good to hear warnings, to learn of dangers we may face, and be prepared for them…  By preparing for attacks, we can repel them or minimize the damage they inflict upon us.  Remember God is your Defense, the Grace of God protects us from all harm and no weapon will stand against us!  As we walk in and under His protection and are sober-minded and watchful. 

Our enemy, the enemy of our souls, the devil, the accuser, the father of lies… this guy… is prowling around the earth looking for someone to devour.  He cannot devour everyone; else why would he have to look? So, who can he devour? Those who are not sober-minded and watchful, on alert, those who are prey to sin and temptation, who do not refuse temptation but rather embrace it.

Like a hungry lion, powerful, single-minded, focused on satisfying his craving for human flesh… eyes fixed on his prey….   and who is this poor sap? This soon-to-be-meal for this ravenous beast?   My friends… it cannot be you or me, because we are saved by the blood of Jesus!  Remember he is looking for someone, he can’t devour just anyone… 

Not to plant fear, but healthy respect for our adversary is wisdom…. like the old story of the man who took a half-frozen rattlesnake into his tent one cold winter morning.  In a misguided attempt to save the poor defenseless snake…. when the warm tent began to warm up the snake… it bit its rescuer! As he lay dying, he turned to the snake and asked, “why did you do this to me, I rescued you and saved your life!”  to which the snake replied, “Ah, yes, but you knew I was a rattlesnake when you took me in!”  

He wasn’t sober-minded, he wasn’t watchful.  In his zeal of misplaced, unwise kindness and compassion, he unwittingly opened the door to a mortal enemy. 

Keep the door shut to the enemy my friends… Sin leads to death.  Block it out.  Fight against it.  Refuse to harbor it in your heart.

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