1 Peter 5:8  “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”.

DAILY READING    Luke 12:1-31; Genesis 21; Psalm 14

A record of an incident from the American Revolution war illustrates the tragedy that can result from neglect. Colonel Johann Rahl,  was a commander of the British troops in Trenton, New Jersey.  On the night of December 25, 1776, which was a Christmas day, General  George Washighton who was leading the American troops,  crossed the Delaware river on his way to attack Commander Rahl’s troops. A Loyalist to the British army who had seen Washington’s forces gathering quickly sent a messenger with a note to Rahl to warn him of the impending attack. But because it Christmas, Rahl and his men had momenterily let their guard down to celebrate the Christmas holiday. Rahl was busy playing cards when he was handed the note from the Loyalist who had seen Washington’s forces. Because he was paying such careful attention to the game, upon receiving the message, Rahl placed it in his coat pocket without reading it. And he didn’t bother to read it until the game was finished. Then, realizing the seriousness of the situation, he hurriedly tried to rally his men to meet the coming attack, but his neglect was his undoing. By the time he could react Washington’s troop was already upon them. During the battle, Rall was mortally wounded. He and many of his men were killed and the rest of the regiment were captured. The letter warning him of the atack was later found in his pocket. Only a few minutes’ careless neglect cost him his life, his honor, and the liberty of his soldiers.

Throughout the scriptures we are constantly warned to be spiritually vigilant. We must understand that we are living in the last days, which are perilious days on earth and we can’t afford to live carelessly. There is an urgent call to believers to awake out of spiritual slumber. Indeed, we have entered the end-time years that are the grand climax of human civilization. And if ever there was a time to live vigilant and prepared, it is now because no man knows the time or the hour when the son of man shall come!

In Matthew 24:48, Jesus spoke of the servant who began to live carelessly because he believed the coming of his master was still faraway, only to have his master return at a time he least expected.

We must live constantly vigilant. Spiritually we can’t afford to go on a ‘holiday,’ not even for a moment. We must always be conscious that we are in a warfare, with an enemy who will attack at the slightest show of negligence. At the slightest breaking of the hedge he would strike.

In moments of spiritual weakness, The Holy Spirit often alerts us through divine promptings. And we need to be sensitive enough to hear and quickly obey such warnings.  Obdience to God’s instructions is what delivers from destruction.  We cannot afford to allow spiritual carelessness rob us of our glorious destiny.

1 Peter 5:8  says “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”.

It is through diligently heeding the warning that  God gives us through His Word and His Spirit that we can escape the traps of the enemy. The capacity of our destiny is at the mercy of our depth in God’s Word and fervency of our prayers.

Maybe you have been getting some divine signals lately. Deep in your heart you know  God has been warning you to quit playing and rise up in the place of prayer.  Well, do not put away the warnings or act as if you haven’t heard God. Do not waste time until there is a crash. Begin now to seek the face of God in prayer, so as to get clear instructions of what He wants you to do. Don’t just assume. Hear clearly for yourself what The Spirit is saying. A daily quiet time spent in studying The Word  and praying, is one way of receiving daily  instructions from The Spirit of God.  God leads by instructions. His Instructions are the high way to distinction. The Word of God is a lamp unto our feet and light unto our path. It is in His light that we can see light. The moment anyone walks away from the  path of The Word, they begin to walk in  the path of outer darkness, where there is confusion and destruction, where anything can happen.

Proverbs 21:16 says ‘The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.’

Our guarantee for safety in the journey of life is dwelling in the path of light, which is walking in line with  God’s Word. The ways of the world are slippery, their boundaries are continually shifting, you cannot afford to walk on such shifting sands lest you sink.  Not all that glitters is gold, Not all open doors are from God, some are traps in disguise. But it is only by the guidance of The Spirit that we can discern. We therefore need to strictly adhere to scriptural instructions and daily follow the leadings of The Spirit, as He guides us on the path to our glorious destiny.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to take heed to the instructions of scriptures. Please guide me always by Your Spirit, so that I can escape every trap of the enemy and eventually arrive at my glorious destiny in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

When God places His hand upon a man in life nothing can come against him, this is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. WORDBITE 222