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On Monday morning I got up from my office chair to discover something rather gross and potentially very embarrassing. Underneath me on the seat - somewhat flattened into the chair - was a small piece of chocolate. I don't know how long it had been there. (I can't remember the last time I had a piece of chocolate at my desk.) But I immediately wondered if every time I'd gotten up from my seat over the recent weeks I'd been carrying with me an awkward brown spot on my pants. For the next few weeks I will almost certainly be looking closely at whatever seat I intend to use!

I had been careless and not paying attention. This incident reminded me of Peter's exhortation to church leaders in 1 Peter 5:8.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

These words are valuable for all followers of Jesus. We need to pay attention (be alert) as we go through life. There is an enemy at work out there that wants us to fail - that wants to leave us blemished with more than just a piece of chocolate on our butt!

In the context of this passage there are a handful of things that are thrown out as temptations we need to be watching out for.

  • The temptation of wealth (v 2)
  • The temptation of power (v 3)
  • The temptation of pride (v 5)
  • The temptation to be guided by and controlled by our worries and fears (v 7)

These are things that destroy people, families, communities, churches, and nations. We definitely need to be watching out for them.

But we aren't just supposed to keep a look out for the dangerous temptations. We're supposed to keep our eyes out for good things, too.

Come and see what the Lord has done! (Ps. 46:8)

Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for humankind! (Ps. 66:5)

We're supposed to see - keep a look out for - what God has done and is doing in the world. These Psalms explicitly refer to:

  • Peace coming where there was violence (44:9-10)
  • The deliverance of those in bondage to freedom (66:6)
  • The saving of lives (66:9)
  • The refining/growing work done in the lives of those who follow God's ways (66:10)
  • People being released to worship God and receive his love (66:16-20)

Like me, sometimes you might get so busy that you fail to look around, be alert, and see - the dangers and the good. May God help us slow down; to be present and aware of what is going on around us so that we may avoid temptation and enjoy (and join in on) what God is doing in the world!