Being Watchful ...
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
I Peter 4:7
Here we are at the beginning of a new year.
A fresh start. A slate unmarked. A full 365-days that are untouched.
But we cannot escape the reality that follows us from the previous years combined.
We live amongst a generation that claims to know God but neglects sound teaching and accumulates for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.
We are watching as some depart from the faith by
devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.
For many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame,
with minds set on earthly things.
We are surrounded by lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
Those that have an appearance of godliness, but deny its power.
And it seems apparent that our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
When we turn on the news...when we converse with a friend...when we read a blog or listen to a podcast...
all around us it seems the night is drawing closer to its end.
The god of this age is creeping into many households...
blinding those to salvation and the glory of God.
What do we do with this? Is it enough to simply be watchful?
To take note of the changing tides of spiritual allegiance?
How do we combat this sweeping sense of darkness...the oppressing blanket of deceit?
Peter answers by telling us to be serious and watchful...in our prayers.
Prayer is one of the most powerful weapons given to Christians...yet left woefully untouched.
It is oft traded in for the loudness of worship music...or the noise of a downloaded sermon.
It is cast aside for the latest Christian book.
Forgotten because we are pursuing a form of godliness that lacks significant power.
We live in a complex world. We are up against a deceiver that masquerades as an angel of light.
But, Christian, we have access to the holy, almighty God of the Universe.
Communion is accessible to us...we are able to approach the throne of grace.
Peter warns us that we are to filter all that we see going on around us through prayer.
We must become serious...clear-minded...sober...vigilant.
Our enemy is prowling around...waiting for our slumber...our lazy acquiesce to idleness.
As hard as it seems...we are to shine even brighter as the days get darker.
Our love is to be even more fervent...our service all the more genuine...our gifts constantly in use...rather than following the example of the world around us.
How can we live these counter-cultural lives without the intense power of prayer fueling us?
2014
May it be the year of watchful prayers.
May the bride of Christ be unceasing in her intercession...bold in her proclamation of truth...unwavering in her theology...and boundless in her love.
I Peter 4:7
Here we are at the beginning of a new year.
A fresh start. A slate unmarked. A full 365-days that are untouched.
But we cannot escape the reality that follows us from the previous years combined.
We live amongst a generation that claims to know God but neglects sound teaching and accumulates for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.
We are watching as some depart from the faith by
devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.
For many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame,
with minds set on earthly things.
We are surrounded by lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
Those that have an appearance of godliness, but deny its power.
And it seems apparent that our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
When we turn on the news...when we converse with a friend...when we read a blog or listen to a podcast...
all around us it seems the night is drawing closer to its end.
The god of this age is creeping into many households...
blinding those to salvation and the glory of God.
What do we do with this? Is it enough to simply be watchful?
To take note of the changing tides of spiritual allegiance?
How do we combat this sweeping sense of darkness...the oppressing blanket of deceit?
Peter answers by telling us to be serious and watchful...in our prayers.
Prayer is one of the most powerful weapons given to Christians...yet left woefully untouched.
It is oft traded in for the loudness of worship music...or the noise of a downloaded sermon.
It is cast aside for the latest Christian book.
Forgotten because we are pursuing a form of godliness that lacks significant power.
We live in a complex world. We are up against a deceiver that masquerades as an angel of light.
But, Christian, we have access to the holy, almighty God of the Universe.
Communion is accessible to us...we are able to approach the throne of grace.
Peter warns us that we are to filter all that we see going on around us through prayer.
We must become serious...clear-minded...sober...vigilant.
Our enemy is prowling around...waiting for our slumber...our lazy acquiesce to idleness.
As hard as it seems...we are to shine even brighter as the days get darker.
Our love is to be even more fervent...our service all the more genuine...our gifts constantly in use...rather than following the example of the world around us.
How can we live these counter-cultural lives without the intense power of prayer fueling us?
2014
May it be the year of watchful prayers.
May the bride of Christ be unceasing in her intercession...bold in her proclamation of truth...unwavering in her theology...and boundless in her love.
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