Be Vigilant
by Angela Weir
It’s lambing time and the field behind our house is filled with young lambs. They’re now at the age when they gather together and have team races up and down the field, jumping off all four feet at once as they turn. They’re a joy to watch. Sadly, a fox has taken eight of them.
Foxes are crafty creatures. They slink up in the dusk when all the sheep are settling for the night, and pounce when they’re least expected. That’s what the enemy does with us. We may think that all is going smoothly and that we’re moving on in the right direction when all of a sudden we find that we’ve slipped back into old habits of thought or deed. If the enemy roared more loudly we would be more alert to his tactics!
A sure way to be on our guard is to work with Jesus and His Holy Spirit, allowing the truth of His Word to penetrate into our hearts and show up any darkness in our lives.
This means that we have to keep studying the Bible. So many Christians don’t bother to read His Word daily and large numbers believe that much of it isn’t relevant for today. I was told by an ordained clergyman that the Bible was the inspired word of God, but it was written by fallible men so we didn’t have to believe all of it! Which bits do we leave out? There are plenty that would make us feel more comfortable if they weren’t there, but the Bible ‘is God-breathed and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin for correction of error and discipline in obedience and training in righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose and action’ (2 Timothy 3:16 Amp).
Let’s keep close to the Shepherd, read His Word and beware of the ‘foxes’!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You say that heaven and earth will perish but that Your words will not perish or pass away. Please give me a passion for Your Word and help me to build my house on You, my Rock, and please show up the weaknesses in my defences where the enemy has access. Amen.
Angela Weir has been associated with Ellel Ministries from the very beginning, first as an associate member of the ministry team and later as an associate teacher. She trained as an actress before moving to Cumbria, where she taught drama in a girls’ school. She now teaches and ministers at various Ellel Centres.
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