Theme: WATCH AND PRAY
Text: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” – 1 Peter 5:8.
Comment: Having been cast down from heaven to this earth, the devil has been vicious in his bid to destroy the entire human race from the surface of the earth, “having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Revelation 12:7-12) Therefore, it behoves worshippers of God to always exercise vigilance spiritually so as not to be deceived or influenced by the devil and his agents or devoured by him. Admonishing Christians against the antics of the devil, St. Peter stated: “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” – 1 Peter 5:9.
The Holy Scriptures enjoins believers to be sober-minded. This will go a long way to elicit discipline that would encourage reading of our Bibles and praying to God always. Stressing the effect of the grace of God on the Christian mind, St. Paul declared: “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Titus 2:12). He had earlier stated: “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6,8). Also, it is in this state we can take appropriate steps to avoid falling into the snares of the devil by the grace of God. “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” – 1 Peter 4:7.