How many stories have we heard in recent days which had to do with someone stealing the identity of another? How easy it is to be ripped off in this way—when an instrument of credit, or a social security number, or a bank account number is surreptitiously lifted from you and used by another person. Those folk often get the increase, and the loser pays the price.

This same principle is true in terms of the Kingdom of God as well. It is not difficult to understand that the enemy of God has the singular purpose of stealing the things of God from the people of God. This is exactly the reason why Saint Paul speaks words of wisdom to his protégé in First Timothy 6.20-21: ‘Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care.’ How important it is to be alert—to keep watch at all times!

God has provided his people with everything needed for living the productive life of faith on this earth. And he has given us his Holy Spirit to empower his perfect will in our lives. Why, then, is it so difficult to live the faith-filled life? We seem to ignore the plan of the enemy or focus on our own desires rather than God’s perfect plan and will for us.

WE FAIL TO WATCH! WE DROP OUR GUARD! Paul advises us to: ‘Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you.’ Let us set our hearts to guard the things of God in our lives! YES!