Guard the Sheep
Protect yourself from the evil works of the Enemy
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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)
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I know that this is part of a letter written from one minister to another.
Nevertheless, it’s good advice for anyone who is in a leadership position above another believer. That is, they are helping to teach & guide another believer on their journey.
If I had to sum up this verse in a word:
Vigilance.
We don’t use vigilance much anymore. It’s a good word meaning “the process of paying close and continuous attention.”
The Enemy is crafty. He takes any opportunity he can to nudge us away from the truth and onto a slightly different path. It’s subtle & sneaky. And often sounds so close to truth that we think it’s fine advice.
The way to combat this is by following Paul’s advice here.
Be vigilant on both yourself and Biblical teaching.
The saving here isn’t quite the same as the salvation that Christ did for us.
This is more about being saved from the Enemy’s destruction of the good works of the Kingdom of God. I talked a few days ago about how faith is shown by our good works, that they are an outward sign of faith. Well, those good works can easily be destroyed.
If we’re not careful, we can fall prey to the Enemy’s temptations — or even our own flesh’s temptations — and compromise the good Kingdom work we’re doing.
The solution?
I think you already know…
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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