BEING WATCHED
Titus 2:11-12
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
Several years ago on Kodiak island, Alaska, Linda and I hunted blacktail deer one evening in an area that was covered up with Brown Bear sign. The giant bears lived in this area above the village of Larsen Bay and could be seen daily in and around town. There were tracks and droppings everywhere you looked. We had a feeling that we were being watched all the time as we walked through the tag alders and cottonwood forests. You could literally smell the bears all evening long. Just at dark we got out safely, thank God, but it was a bad feeling that we were under the scrutiny of dangerous bears.
Those of us that are Christians need to realize that in our lives, we are always under the watchful eye of others. If we are going to claim to be something godly then we had better live up to that. People are watching and waiting for Christians to screw up and if and when they do, we will be pounced upon.
It is similar to the grizzlies in Alaska, in the dark waiting for something to devour. I learned that once while blacktail hunting and using a deer call that sounded like a distressed fawn. It only took seconds for a giant brown bear to come busting through the brush to kill and eat the meal he thought was crying out. Lesson learned.
This all doesn't mean that we let people walk on us or we try to hide who we are... It means we speak the truth in love and do our best always to lead a godly life. And if we fall, and we will, we confess that sin and let people know that are watching that we aren't perfect... but we're forgiven.
So what is the trick to staying in "the right place" with God our lives? What keeps us where we should be in our walk with the Lord?
Elizabeth George once said, "When you cultivate a godly thought life, your soul will shine and you will exhibit the presence of the Lord in you."
Ephesians 5:15-17
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Surround yourself with strong Christian men and/or women. Spend time in God's word. Talk to God regularly... prayer. When we practice these things, our chances of falling into a sinful situation become far less.
Remember, we are being watched.
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