While men slept…
It’s important to note that the Christian faith is a sensitive one because the world is spiritual. It takes sensitivity and discernment to perceive beyond the physical. When one can discern spiritually, one gets the truest perspective.
Truth is, there is a level of alertness and discernment that the believer must have. Discernment is of God. The moment the believer starts to accommodate falsehood, something wrong is getting into him.
Read Matt. 13:24-30 – the parable here is explained in verses 37 – 43;
Often times, it can be really difficult to differentiate wheat from tares, and that’s what the devil tries to do. He takes away God’s original plan and puts something that looks like it, he does this while men sleep. The period of sleep is the period of insensitivity, the moment when the believer is not alert. Nobody stops following God in a day, it is often a slow fade – it is caused by moments of weakness. Just like David with Beersheba.
The devil’s plan is to substitute the original for the counterfeit. Sensitivity is in little things. Subtleness is the description of Moses for the serpent, crafty, cunny. The devil is subtle. Hence, we must be on the alert.
Observe the little things: Watch your thoughts because they become your beliefs, words, and actions. You can trace all unalertness to a source.
Lk. 18:1;
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Prayer helps you to stay alert. When you don’t pray, you will easily give in to moments of weakness.
Matt. 26:38-41;
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Jesus calls prayer that watching and staying alert. Prayer keeps one in the will of God. We are in times when discerning has to be very high. Check your priorities, your words, and your motives. Remember, when we pray, we keep the devil far from us.
Daily Bible Reading Plan:
Bible Reading – Ecclesiastes 5-8
TEACHING OF THE DAY
Spiritual Growth (What, Where, When and How) – 2