NOVEMBER 19. Let us watch and be sober—1 Thes. 5: 6. Let us watch in the sense of taking careful notice of all the directions which the Lord our God has given us, respecting what would be acceptable service to Him. Let us watch ourselves, striving to walk as nearly as possible in the footsteps of the great High Priest. Let us be sober in the sense that we will not be frivolous; that while happy, joyous in the Lord, free from the anxious cares that are upon many others through misapprehension of our Fathers character and Plan, we may, nevertheless, be sober in the sense of earnest appreciation of present opportunities and privileges in connection with the Lords service—not thoughtlessly negligent, letting opportunities and privileges slip through our hands to be afterwards regretted— Z The word watch implies sentinelship. It suggests that we be armed, remain awake, survey our dispositions, thoughts, motives, words, acts, surroundings and influences operating on and from us, challenge all things that would enter or leave the camp of our minds and hearts, be incredulous to their claims of friendliness, require proof of such claims, capture those unable to furnish such proof, permit egress or ingress on such proof, survey the whole sphere of our duties and privileges, and remain on guard until relieved. To be sober implies balance of disposition and judgment, not over or under estimating the participants of our warfare, recognizing our infirmities, needs, purposes and attainments, those of our enemies, the powers, purposes and helps of our Leader, the hardships, duration and purpose of our warfare and the certainty of defeat to the unfaithful and of victory to the faithful, and from such consideration exercise great and continual carefulness— Parallel passages: Ex. 23: 13; 34: 12; Deut. 4: 9, 23; Josh. 22: 5; 1 Kings 8: 25; Psa. 39: 1;141: 3; Prov. 4: 23; Mal. 2: 15; Matt. 16: 6; 24: 4; 26: 40, 41; Luke 11: 35; Acts 20: 28- 31; 1 Cor. 10: 12; 16: 13; Eph. 5: 15; 6: 18; 1 Tim. 4: 16; Heb. 2: 1; 3: 12; 1 Pet. 1: 13; 4: 7; 5: 8.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 03:38:32 +0000
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