Vigilance and Diligence Are Coworkers in the Christian Life.

"We are to be vigilant, watching for the coming of the Son of man; and we must also be diligent; working as well as waiting is required; there must be a union of the two." - AH 23.1

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Jesus speaks to his disciples in Matthew 10:16 imploring them that they be"therefore wise as serpents". But what does being wise as a serpent mean?

While opinions may differ, the serpent in the narrative of the initial deception in the garden exhibited cunning. It successfully deceived Adam and Eve, yet erred in thinking that as the devil in disguise, it could reign over the hearts of those first humans and subsequent generations for all eternity. Looking at Adam and Eve as an example, In Adventist Home Chapter 2: Fundamentals of True Homemaking, we learn how not being wise with our actions can affect those in our immediate families as well.

For ladies who are waiting for God to grant them a husband, or are currently courting, it is important to take note of the fact that yes, your home MUST be conducive to God-like characteristics (clean, neat, and orderly as White describes). However, the same God-like characteristics must be in you as well!

"In many a home, the wife and mother have no time to read, to keep herself well informed, no time to be a companion to her husband, no time to keep in touch with the developing minds of her children. There is no time or place for the precious Saviour to be a close, dear companion." AH 32.2

When we find ourselves caught up with daily duties in the household, and caught up with doing the duties a wife and mother should, it's important to remember that losing our faith in Christ should never be an option through such work. Ephesians 6:5 states"Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ".Thus, it's imperative that while we work for our families, we never forget who we are ultimately serving, as although some of us will soon serve our husbands and children, we must never forget that such a responsibility was bestowed upon us ultimately from Christ Himself. Therefore, we should work as if we were serving God Himself!

By being neglectful of our faith and relationship to God, we put not only ourselves in danger, but also our families and even our neighbors. In a previous post entitled: Why is Bearing the Light in Christ Jesus Essential for Every Believer? Bearing the light is important to every Christian because it allows for it to shine into the lives of others.

As we diminish the brightness of our lights, diverting attention from His word to the daily struggles of life, we unintentionally lead children toward spiritual stumbling blocks or witness a once Christ-centered marriage becoming as unequally yoked as water and oil.

Similar to Job, we are unaware of when the Dragon, the Demon, or the Devil may approach our shores, prepared to undermine us. Therefore, as women striving to become future wives and/or mothers, our connection with Him must reign supreme in both our domestic and professional spheres. By remaining vigilant and diligent in our daily endeavors, we can, with the guidance of the Spirit of God, ensure victory in the ongoing spiritual warfare of today's age.

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