On Being Vigilant In Our Spiritual Walks!

 

 Connect! Sunday Reflection: Stay Awake! The Best Is Yet to Come! | LPi

TUE Evening Prayer Reflection 062921 (Feast of Apostles Sts. Peter and Paul)

Today is the feast of Apostles Peter and Paul. It is fitting that we would talk about their lives, what they believed, what they suffered, their preaching… St Augustine wrote: “Both apostles share the same feast day. Even though they suffered death on different days, they were as one. Peter went first and Paul followed.” It is believed that Peter was crucified head downward and Paul beheaded with a sword later. This was during Emperor Nero’s persecution of Christians in Rome. What best way to celebrate and embrace their lives than digging in our own lives to examine ourselves if we are still indeed firm in our faith? It would be what they would most have liked to hear, that the fruits of their labor were not in vain.

In order to do this, I propose we focus on the word “vigilance.” It is defined as the action or the state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties. Other similar words are watchfulness, surveillance, attentiveness. Like the Apostles, we need to keep awake. Their world was in dire situation as persecuted Christians. Jesus had told them that the price they would pay for being his followers would be indeed grand. Jesus asked: “Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” Matt. 20:22. This was a rhetorical question that invited them into deeper reflection of the subject. Jesus was pointing to the cup at Calvary, the cup of all sins of humanity of all time, the torture on the cross by Roman guards. “You will indeed drink my cup!” Jesus responded, indicating the kind of suffering and death they were to die that is similar to His for their faith. If the world, did it to the master, it should be easy to do it to the followers. All believers will suffer at least some degree of persecution for what they believe, if they live their faith in public. We have already some current examples like the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

How does vigilance fit into this? I would say if you think you are safe, think again. The world we live in might have changed in significant ways from the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, but its ways or modus operandi is still the same. The world will find new and improved ways to persecute and neutralize (or even kill) its adversaries. This is not a call to arms out of vain conspiracy theories. It is about watching our spiritual progress, discerning how, when the ways of the world are unchallenged, they can invade and destroy in silence. When trying to challenge God, the old serpent started by: “Did God say…” By challenging God’s word, the prince of this world, attacks and invades our thinking, so that we can begin to doubt. This is the reason we need to be vigilant and alert in all aspects of our lives.

Pay attention to yourself with vigilance, so that you may set God before you at all times! Ps. 15:8 “I keep the Lord always before me.” Early believers Barsanuphius and John wrote in their letters from the Desert: Try to hear the voice of God saying to you: “Behold I am sending my angel before your face, to prepare your way before you” Matt 11: 10. The evil one may try to use unusual tactics to derail God’s children with worldly dubious thinking. If our Christian worldview is attacked, we should be able to respond. The Bible tells us that we should be ready to give reasons why we believe. Bear in mind that, the works of darkness will always try to fight the works of light, this is what happened to the Apostles when they were murdered for their belief. Today the attacks from the enemy or prince of this world and his ways may not always be physical, but it does not mean the attacks are less dangerous. Jesus told us: “rejoice that your names are written in the book of life”, which to me, should be a great deal to us believers so, beware of anything that may try to change that glorious destiny.

Spiritual warfare is a reality, make no mistake. Spiritual attacks from the enemy are very real. A friend of mine sent in a father’s wish for his kids: “Don’t listen to Satan! He will lie to you. He will tell you things that are not true about God; things that are not true about others; things that are not true about yourself. He will tell you sin is fine and then tell you that you are a terrible person when you do sin. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. Eph 6:14”

Let us be vigilant in our spiritual walks!

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