BYM ONLINE DESK Blessing English Emagazine December 2019 | Page 3

www.bymonline.org | December 2019
accomplishments like Haman! (Esth 5:10-12). Today let
us decide not to talk about us but to speak good things
about others. Watch out for pride.
a)Not just pride, we should be on the guard for every
sin. “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin,”
says David (Psa 39:1). Yes, we need to muzzle our mouth,
a place where we frequently fail. If Zechariah had not
been sceptical to Gabriel, he would not have lost his voice
(Lk 1:18).
b)Jesus has warned us, “Watch out! Be on your guard
against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an
abundance of possessions” (Lk 12:15). Covetousness
makes you unhappy with what you have. There is a lot of
difference between the early church believers and today's
believer. Most believers are made to believe that the more
they have the more God has blessed them. So they
clamber to collect possessions. Their love for money
overrides everything else. Let us all pray the prayer of
Agur every day and avoid extravaganza (Pro 30:8,9). Let
us pray for the “enough” spirit (I Tim 6:6). Learn self-
control in an age of excess. Adopt modest habits. Mother
Theresa was “as simple a person as could be” remembers
sister Clare. She mended her own clothes and darned her
socks. John the Baptist was a prophet yet simple. Jesus
called him the greatest. “When we learn to hold the world
with a loose grip, we are learning to take hold of the world
to come with a firm grip,” said Sinclair Fergusan. So let
not your key bunch become bigger and bigger.
c)“So watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins
against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive
them” (Lk 17:3). Watch out to do it even seven times a
day. How many of us take the courage to rebuke our
children, spouse, parents, friends when they sin against
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us? We just watch them go down the gutter. Take courage.
This is one area where we wash our hands off the fate of
our loved ones. If they feel sorry, embrace them. All of us
should be bold enough to rebuke and humble enough to
accept rebuke. That's the way to walk the highway of
holiness.
d)“If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you
will be destroyed by each other” (Gal 5:15). You don't
need to walk far in search of this sin. May be it is inside
your family, neighbourhood, church or office. Why can't
we just give up, trusting the Lord and avoid court room
battles? It is in the context of giving up that Jesus said,
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good
pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Lk 12:32). When we
get to heaven we'll be ashamed of our bickering over
nothing. Maintain peace at any cost. “Now that we have
learned to fly in the air like birds and dive in the sea like
fish, only one thing remains to learn to live on earth like
humans,” said George Bernard Shaw. How true!
e)“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression,
you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of
gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be
tempted” (Gal 6:1). We read so often in the news of
people drowning while trying to save a drowning person.
The devil is cunning. He tempts restorers who are on the
job. Numerous counselors trying to restore someone have
fallen in sin because they were not watchful. We are
swimming against a current of temptations. The Spirit
will keep on warning you. Heed His warnings and save
yourself.
f)“Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.
Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself
and your hearers” (1 Tim 4:16). Life and teaching should