Memorise: Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Colossians 4:2
Read: 1st Peter 5:5-11 (KJV)
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Bible in one year:
Numbers 14-15,
Lamentation 1:15-2:5,
Hymnal:
Sing hymn 2
Message
Watchfulness means to be alert and expectant as you monitor someone or something in your care, or as you await the arrival of someone important or a significant event.
To be watchful is to be alert to things around you as you live your daily life. The Bible warns us to be vigilant by closely watching the activities of the devil, mortifying all vulnerabilities to temptation, looking out for the enemy’s wily attacks and being ever prepared for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our watchfulness should begin with the words of Proverbs 4:23, which says:
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
The Holy Spirit refers to this as renewing the mind in Romans 12:2, which is best done by filling our minds with the undiluted word of God (Hebrews 4:12). Having set a watch over the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts, we then need to bridle our tongue in order not to sin with it (James 1:26, 1st Peter 3:10). Finally, 1st Peter 4:7 says:
“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”
As Christians in these last days, we are called to watch unto prayers more than ever before.
Why do we need to be watchful? The Holy Spirit answers this in 1st Peter 5:8, which says:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Let us follow the example of our Lord, who took the need to be watchful seriously in the last hour before His sufferings began. Knowing what was about to happen to Him, He was so sorrowful and decided to take His disciples to have a private moment at the Garden of Gethsemane. It was at this retreat that Jesus gave His disciples the sure antidote to temptation. He said in Matthew 26:41:
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
We are therefore called to be alert to dangers which can erode and shipwreck our faith in Christ such as false teachings, worldliness, love of money, inordinate ambition, sinful pleasure, sexual immorality and all other works of the flesh. Complacency or failure to watch can be very dangerous indeed. It led to the sudden death of Abel, who was killed by a brother who spoke peacefully with him in one minute but rose up to kill him in the next (Genesis 4:8). Sanballat and Tobiah, the enemies of the Jews, would have successfully terminated Nehemiah’s building project if not for watchfulness (Nehemiah 4). I pray that God will expose every activity of the enemy in your life and family today in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point
Father, as You did with Elisha, help me to always be one step ahead of my enemies, in Jesus’ Name (2nd Kings 6:8-12)
Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Churches in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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