1 Peter 5:8 “ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
We often hear the world use the word sober. Of course, sobriety is a keeping away from alcohol, but its meaning goes a bit deeper than that. When someone is under the influence of alcohol, they act without thinking. When someone is drunk, they cannot contain themselves emotionally or physically. In that same word, we see Christ speaks to Christians to be sober minded.
How do we have a sober mind?
1. Soberness is being vigilant, to be alert – 1 Peter 5:8. When growing up your parents told you to look both ways before crossing the street, they wanted you to be alert of your surroundings. They wanted you to be vigilant to your own safety. Our spiritual safety is at risk when we are not alert of the dangers that our sin causes. We have an enemy who is looking for those who are not alert. Are we aware of our besetting sins
2. Soberness is being sincere, thoughtful – Titus 2:6-8. Young people must learn to be thoughtful. We must learn to be thoughtful about the things we say, and do. The things we say, and do hold weight, and can affect how we are viewed, and more importantly, how others view Christ. Newtons third law of motion states, for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. Do we consider our actions or have we become drunk of the mind?
3. Soberness is to be discerning – Proverbs 20:1. The Christian should be sober, not one who is easily duped by the world or the scams of the devil. The Christian should use the wisdom of God’s Word to discern what is harmful, and what is helpful. We should be wary of things that seem “too good to be true”. Do we verify truth through the lens of God’s Word, or have we become gullible to the lies of the devil?
Timothy Pledger | Missions Director of All Nations Outreach Ministries
Calvary Baptist Church | Middleburg, FL
