Sober Minded

It is pretty easy, in most cases, to determine the difference between a person who is sober minded as opposed to one who is not. The one who is not sober minded we often refer to as being a flake. The seem confused, impulsive, emotionally unbalanced, and irrational. It is as if they can’t control their thoughts or behaviors. The sober minded individual has understanding, is emotionally balanced, is rational and controls their thoughts. Unfortunately, just like the person who struggles with alcohol, we can move from mental and emotional sobriety to unsobriety quickly and often.

I Thessalonians 5:8 says, “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” To be sober means to be in control of one’s thoughts and actions, able to manage stress and emotions. So let faith and love be a shield over your heart and let hope rule over your mind. When the heart is protected by faith and love, and the mind is focused on the hope of our salvation, we will be sober minded and in control of our thoughts.

That We May See

Have you ever looked back at an event and realized something new that you didn’t understand at the time? Perhaps someone speaks about the event from a different perspective, or you see videos that show you something new. Sometimes, we just need to take a broader view in order to understand the truth.

II Kings 6:17 says, “Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” The prophet Elisha and a young man were surrounded by enemy soldiers, and the young man became afraid. Elisha saw something that the young man didn’t see. God had placed a huge army of heavenly hosts with Elisha, and they would fight for him. Elisha asked God to open the eyes of the young man so that he could see what God was prepared to do for him. In the same way, we should ask God to open our eyes so that we can see what He is doing for us and is prepared to do through us.

Prepare the Way

Right now, the city is doing roadwork in the area in which we live. They took one day to mark out their work and set up warning signs. Another day, they spent preparing the street for the work to be done. Then, they could actually begin the work on the road. If we are to be effective in the tasks that we undertake, we also must first do the preparatory work.

Isaiah 40:3 says, “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'” This verse has several applications. First, it is a command to God’s people, Israel, to make a way for the Lord, as their hearts had become dry like a desert in need of refreshment. Second, this verse is a prophecy regarding John the Baptist and his mission to preach repentance ahead of the coming of God’s kingdom. Thirdly, its message to us is to prepare our hearts for God to work in and through us. We should have willing spirits and keen minds to understand God’s Word and be ready to follow Him.

Enlighten

I do not understand many things when I first come across them. But with instruction, experience, and increased exposure, these things become more clear. It is like going into a dark room. We don’t know what is inside as we enter, but light can be turned on and the truth becomes clearer.

Ephesians 1:18 says, “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” When we put our trust in God, He brings light so that our hearts may see and know the hope He gives us. This hope is for both daily and future blessings. He rewards our faith daily and will bring us into His glorious presence forever. He considers each of us who believe in Him to be the riches of His inheritance. Knowing how God values each believer should bring us hope and encouragement.

My Way or the Highway

During my career, I have worked with and for people who were very controlling. They would give people a task to do, but then they want to control every aspect of the task. The subordinate would finish the task and the manager would then criticize many aspects of the work, even though the quality was good. The manager was not satisfied because the work was not done the way they would do it, even though it was good work.

Luke 13 recounts the story of Jesus’ healing of a woman who had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. Because He did this on a Sabbath, the synagogue ruler complained. But Jesus answered him by saying, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham who Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” We should encourage and support those who are doing good works, even if the way they do it is not done the way that we would do it. Putting artificial standards, even religious standards, on good works limits the quantity and the quality of good works. Blessed are those who do good works for other people.