Closing In!

As I have been taking my walks the last couple weeks, I have been keeping a watch for the tent caterpillars beginning to eat the leaves and build their cocoons in the trees. I have been diligently KEEPING WATCH to see how close they are getting to our neighborhood as they seem to be gradually closing in. Now it is becoming a DAILY WATCH for signs of them in our own yard. So far it has only been one small branch of a lilac tree which I immediately took care of. If I don’t keep a CLOSE WATCH I know that all our trees could be infested before we know it.

Living in the world we need to keep a CLOSE WATCH as ungodliness seems to close in closer and closer around us. If we are not watchful, worldly ideas can slip in and begin to influence in subtle ways. We can gradually become desensitized to things which are out of place in our Christian walk.
Therefore we must be diligent in keeping a CLOSE WATCH that we do not become infested with anything that may begin to strip away at godly character and faithfulness to God’s Will. As soon as we see signs of such we need to take quick action to eliminate (do some pruning) whatever may eat away at the life God desires us to live.

Paul exhorted Timothy to…
“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 Timothy 4:16 ESV)

May we seek God’s help to keep us resistant to the infestation of worldliness. Let us diligently keep a CLOSE WATCH for our own sake, as well as the sake of those we are trying to draw to Christ.

Have a great day ON GUARD FOR GOD’S GLORY!
Carl

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