Be Sober and Alert
Bible Reading:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a
roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8
This
self-publishing company told him they had worked on my book to scam him out of
money for illustrations. After some angry emails to the manager, I told her I
had never worked with that company and that they were wrong for sending false
information to my friend. I hope it will scare the owner enough not to scam
people using fake links for illustrations.
If not
for my friend’s willingness to check the source and not unquestioningly believe
what she told him, we would never have caught this scam. However, he could
contact me and verify the information because we were personal friends. It
would have been easy for him to be deceived into thinking that this company had
a hand in the gorgeous illustrations accompanying my book. But with some
discernment and knowledge from the Lord, we could discern that the information
she gave him was all a lie.
In the
above verse, Paul reminds us to always be on alert. Satan will use whatever
schemes are necessary to get him to believe his lies. It would have been easy
for my friend to believe this woman's lies because he knew me and could have
thought she knew me, too. However, verifying the source of the information and
testing it against my testimony proved the information was a lie.
It is essential for us as Christians to
always test what we hear and see with Scripture. This applies to anything we
hear in church or what society tells us. It is easy to believe a lie when we
don't verify the source of the information. However, part of being sober and
alert in our judgment is verifying sources and ensuring we can clearly think
through the information. It is also important to be anchored in the Word to
know precisely what to do when Satan's lies get the best of us.
Are there times in your life when Satan has
lied to you and made you feel as if your worth and value are in what society
says rather than what God says? Have you taken the time to see if those lies
align with Scripture and the promises of God? Some quick reading and in-depth
research into the word of God will prove those lies are false. We must
constantly be testing our thoughts and feelings against the word of God.
Satan is so willing to deceive us into
believing his lies and taking our minds and focus off of
Christ. As the above verse suggests, he is like a lion, prowling
quietly, waiting for his next victim. When he sees an opportunity, he will
pounce on us. Satan takes advantage of every opportunity he can when we are
vulnerable and weak when our thoughts don't align with Scripture. That is the
perfect time for the enemy to pounce.
Read the word of God often. Study it and
memorize it. Scripture was the one thing Jesus had when Satan tempted him in
the desert. When Satan tempted Jesus to question his identity, his abilities,
or who God was in his life, Jesus combated him with one thing: the word of God.
The word of God is our anchor and our best weapon against the enemy, a roaring
lion ready to devour us at any moment. Be sober and alert, allowing the word of
God to be your guide.
Father, help us to be sober and alert,
always watching for the devil. Anchor us in God's word so the truth comes
easily to our minds. Check the lies we believe against the word of God. May you
reveal yourself to us so we can keep you in our minds and hearts. Amen.
Intersecting
Faith & Life:
What
steps can you take today to remain sober and alert against the devil’s schemes?
Further
Reading:
James 4:7