“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
Devotional Story :
Jacob and Rachel were loving parents to their two children, Samuel and Sarah. They worked hard to provide a happy home, but they allowed little sins to trickle in without taking much notice. They considered these sins harmless; perhaps a white lie here, or some gossip there. As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, this trickle turned into a flood.
The Bible warns,
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9).
Unbeknownst to them, the floodwaters of sin were rising.
One night, both Jacob and Rachel had a similar dream. They saw their children, Samuel and Sarah, asleep in their beds as floodwaters started to rise around them. The waters covered their beds, and slowly began to submerge their children. They woke up in terror, realizing the gravity of their actions.
They immediately fell to their knees and prayed for forgiveness, asking God for wisdom and discernment.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
From that day on, they were diligent in keeping sin out of their home, ensuring they were aligned with God’s word. They spoke Proverbs 22:6 over their children,
“Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
Conclusion:
Don’t underestimate the power of ‘little’ sins to cause harm. Be vigilant and continuously seek God’s guidance to keep your home a sanctuary of His love and righteousness.
Let this story serve as a warning and a guide to stand firm against the tricks of the enemy, holding fast to what is good.
21 Examine all things; retain that which is good.
22 Separate yourselves from all appearance of evil.
(1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).