Be On Your Guard

God teaches people of God lessons through the journey of life. He especially teaches us through trials and tribulations. In 1 Corinthians 16:13 God says through the apostle Paul to be vigilant and on your guard:  "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." To stand firm in the faith we must be watchful with Christ's eyes behind our eyes. We cannot resist temptation on our own. The devil prowls about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

The "Human code”, which we learn from the world and the culture of our times, tells us that we must be "self sufficient." It says, we cannot ask for help or admit that we can't do it on our own. However, Jesus says, "come unto me all who are weak and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

God is raising up men and women of God for such a time as this. When the crisis comes and courage is required, God expects his people to be the reliable ones.  According to Oswald Chambers, Christians will be shipwrecked unless men and women of God throw themselves recklessly upon the calling and will of God.  

It's easy to become distracted, turn “lukewarm” and then allow our hearts to turn cold toward God. It takes initiative and deliberate action to stay on guard and walking in the spirit. Our calling is to keep our hearts with all diligence, for out of the heart are the issues of life. Our responsibility is to " conduct yourselves like God’s men and women” ...  people of God in whom the spirit of the Lord is in.

We trust others in all phases of life. We trust that things in our technologically complex world will work as they have been designed. However, people will let you down. Things will break and wear out. People are insecure because they have put their faith in people and things that can and will be taken away. People lose their confidence due to trials and tribulations. Every relationship in this earthly life will end in pain except for one. Our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ is the only relationship that will last into eternity.

For a man and woman of God, there are four foundational truths: (1) Life is hard.  (2) It's not about me. (3) I'm not in control. (4) This life will end.  Since it's not about me, it is more blessed to give than to receive. The blessing of life is to give glory to our Heavenly Father.

The children of God need to stay in close proximity with their Lord Jesus Christ.  Citizens of the kingdom of heaven must counter the indoctrination of our culture's human-code. The people of God are called of God to shatter our secular culture's definition of what it means to be a man and woman.  Encourage others to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. One of the greatest lessons of life was summarized by a quote from Jim Elliot, a missionary, who was martyred in South America for his faith:  "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." Therefore, be on guard, “watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like children of God, be strong.”

May God richly bless you!

Your brother in Christ. Michael