Today's Devotional
May 8, 2007
Subject: Be Sober
1 Thessalonians 5:6 - "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."
1 Peter 5:8 - "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
Christians often get queried about whether it's okay to drink alcohol. The question is much like the type of questions that the religious people of Jesus' day posed to Him. The issue really isn't about whether it is okay to drink, but instead it's about whether or not we are "clear-headed" when it comes to the way we live our lives.
Yesterday after awaking from my surgery, I was feeling pretty good and I seemed quite responsive to everyone's questions. However, as the day went on and I more fully recovered, I realized that previously, I wasn't as sober as I thought I was. My wife realized it as she kept having to repeat things to me that I had asked her earlier in the day. She also had to remind me of some important things the doctor said to me in a phone conversation about what happened in the surgery. We can understand how this can happen to someone who is recovering from surgery, but to put oneself in that position, of an unclear head intentionally, is quite dangerous.
See we are told to "watch" and to be "vigilant" and that's tough to do without a sober mind. A sober mind keeps us alert to what is going on around us, because as the scripture above says, "our adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." We make the adversary's job quite easy when we are not alert to his schemes.
Today, keep your mind clear and not just your mind but your whole body, soul and spirit. It's important to do so, because sometimes you only get one chance to ask or have your questions answered. You'd better remember what the "doctor" said.
