Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
This very well-known passage is very easy to use but maybe not so easy to accept in its context.
The context is an exhortation to elders: pastors, preachers, and teachers in the churches.
- They are to feed the flock of God and they are to take the oversight thereof.
- They are not to be lords over God’s heritage.
- They are not to do their work for “filthy lucre” but willingly (and I think that means with a sense of calling.)
- They are to be clothed with humility and trust the Lord to exalt them in His time.
- They are to cast their cares upon God trusting that He cares for them. And then,
- They are to be sober and vigilant because their adversary the devil seeks to devour them.
I take it that he might devour the preacher:
- With materialism
- With pride
- With jealousy of others
- With authoritarianism
- With overwhelming despondency
It’s not necessarily to the weakest Christians we have this warning. Preachers need to be sober and vigilant lest they are devoured in the temptations the ministry presents.
To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.
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