Keeping guard

I know falling back to sin is never an option for many of us. We can never want to imagine ourselves back to where Jesus brought us from-how it used to be. Forgetting what is behind and moving ahead, we are running to get the prize promised to us. We try to do what is right and to keep our relationship with God right by constantly praying, reading the word, maintaining a fellowship with fellow believers and trying to obey as God requires of us. However, many times we over look what seems like ‘small sins’ or rather, we fail to stay on guard against those sins. Many times we forget the power of little, just like the tiny mustard seed that grows into a huge tree. This is how those ‘little’ sins do and when they grow from small to huge, they become so difficult to uproot.

The bible in the book of Matthew 13:24-25 tells of a parable of how a man planted good seeds in his farm. However, at night, his enemy came and sowed tares/weeds and they grew with the wheat until the time of harvest. From this parable, I learnt that even as we run the race to receive the prize, it is possible for the enemy to sow sins/weeds in us ‘at night’. If we are not careful, these seeds of sin can grow and occupy the space in our lives that is meant for good things. The seeds of sin germinate and grow into strong sins with deep roots and they can take so much handwork to uproot.

These seeds can come in many forms. The bible tells us that we should get rid of anything that easily entangles us so that we can run the race (Heb 12:1-2).These can include ‘little’ envies, jealous, lust lies, gossip, self glorification, pride, little grudges etc. Although they may seem little, they can slowly grow into big things. Example, a lustful thought if not dealt with immediately can lead into adultery or fornication whose end result is great consequences. A good example is the story of David and Bathsheba in the bible.

I have learnt through the help of the Holy Spirit that to prevent such, I must stay on guard. Staying on guard means continuously reading the word of God and using it as a mirror to evaluate our lives and then getting rid of the sins that we find during our daily self evaluation. I also learn that I should keep praying everyday for God to show me those things and to uproot any and every form of evil that may be taking root in my life and heart whether at its infant or advanced stage. Reading through the bible I realize that there are many things that I do or I have done that God considers wrong. Unless in keep reading it, and asking the spirit of God to show me, I can never learn and for this reason, I might be found with blame when the Lord returns and this could cost me my prize.

I pray every day that God will help me to stay on guard, to help me use the grace He has given me to help me resist sin and to continually prune my life so that I will be found blameless when he returns. I pray the same for you and also that you may desire to grow deeper in God even as you grow in other areas of your lives.

God bless you and keep growing in Him.