Be Sober, Be Vigilant

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. — 1 Peter 5:8 KJV

What is your default behavior before making a choice or acting? Do you lean on your own understanding? Or do you usually ask for God’s guidance? Better yet, how seriously do you treat the answers you hear from the Lord? Are they optional as far as you are concerned, or are they the difference between life and death for you? Your answer matters!

How does it look to live a sober and vigilant life, since that’s what the Lord commands us to do?

1. Do all that He says.   

Incomplete obedience is still disobedience. Remember Saul, who partially obeyed God twice? 

King Saul did not destroy all the enemy as God said (1 Samuel 13:8); therefore, the Lord forsook him and gave the kingdom to David, who would do His will (Acts 13:22). Be vigilant; be careful to do all that the Lord commands. Obey His voice; don’t lean to your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).  

Neither works, nor praise and worship, will substitute for obedience to the Lord. 

2. Inquire of the Lord; wait for His instructions. 

They lead to life! Remember, Joshua, fresh from God’s miraculous victory at Jericho. He did not ask the Lord first before attacking Ai. Joshua was defeated due to hidden sin in the camp (Joshua 7:1-5). God’s instructions would have spared them defeat and loss of life. 

Recall King Jehoshaphat’s miraculous victory over his enemies? He called upon the Lord, who told the king how to overcome (2 Chronicles 20) by sending the worshippers before the army! 

3. Do not grieve or quench the Holy Spirit. 

Why? He seals you to be present at Jesus’ return (Ephesians 4:30)!  Woe, the Scripture says, to those who are at ease in Zion (Amos 6:1) and not vigilant!  Beware lest you fall asleep and do not watch and pray, as Jesus warned (Matthew 26:40-41)!  Shrink from all that would bring reproach on Jesus’ name. Do not deny the Lord with your deeds by being stubborn or defiant; this blasphemes His holy name (Numbers 15:30-31).

4. Crucify fleshly attitudes.  

Be not ignorant of your adversary’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). Know and use your weapons of offense—the blood of Jesus, the Word of God, and the name of Jesus—plus your weapons of defense—holy living, which is your armor of light. 

5. Require the Lord’s presence as your vital necessity.  

Crave His presence increasingly ever more (Psalm 105:3-4). Speak truly and live truly (Ephesians 4:15 TAC), seeking the Lord’s righteousness in every situation. 

Prayer for Today: 

Lord, help me to be sober and vigilant to walk in Your ways and do Your will. Help me to inquire of You first and not lean on my own understanding when making my plans. Help me to be quick to obey You. Thank You for giving me a heart to know You and the desire to do Your will (Philippians 2:13). Thank You for helping me to crucify my fleshly attitudes. Surely, I need You more and more! Thank You for multiplying Your grace and peace to me through knowing You (2 Peter 1:2-4). 

God’s Special Invitation to You Today:

Abide in Me, as I abide in you, for I am watching over you to keep you in all your ways. Likewise, live in Me and do not lean to your own understanding. I never leave you, nor let go of My hold on you. 

Adapted with permission from God’s Special Invitation, How Will You R.S.V.P.?, Volume II –“Living in the Favor and Fear of the Lord,” by Sunny Wessel.