The best way to escape temptation is to run to God.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith. 1 Corinthians 16:13

My desk sits close to a window that opens into our neighborhood. From that vantage point I’m privileged to watch birds perch on the trees nearby. Some come to the window to eat insects trapped in the screen.

The birds check their immediate surroundings for any danger, listening attentively as they look about them. Only when they are satisfied that there is no danger do they settle down to feed. Even then, they pause every few seconds to scan the area.

The vigilance these birds demonstrate reminds me that the Bible teaches us to practice vigilance as Christians. Our world is full of temptations, and we need to remain constantly alert and not forget about the dangers. Like Adam and Eve, we easily get entangled in attractions that make the things of this world seem “good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom” (Gen. 3:6).

“Be on your guard,” Paul admonished, “stand firm in the faith” (1 Cor. 16:13). And Peter cautioned, “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).

As we work for our own daily bread, are we alert to what could start consuming us? Are we watching for any hint of self-confidence or willfulness that could leave us wishing we had trusted our God?

Lord, keep us from the secret sins and selfish reactions we’re so naturally inclined toward. By Your grace, turn our temptations into moments of growth in Christlikeness.

亲近上帝就能抵挡试探。

你们务要警醒，在真道上站立得稳。-哥林多前书16章13节

我的书桌靠着窗户，窗口对着社区公园。在这视野极佳的位置，我可以观赏鸟儿在邻近的树上栖息，有些鸟儿会到窗边来吃困在纱窗边的虫子。

鸟儿在进食时，会眼观四面耳听八方，看看有没有危险。它们确定没有危险后，才会停下来大快朵颐。即使如此，它们仍会保持警醒，不时停下来环顾四周。

这些鸟儿的警戒心让我想到，圣经也教导我们这些基督徒要时时警醒。我们所处的世界充满了试探，所以我们需要保持警戒，不要忘记身边随时会有危险。我们就像亚当与夏娃一样，很容易被世上的事物所迷惑。这些事物看似“悦人的眼目，且是可喜爱的，能使人有智慧”（创世记3章6节） 。

我们当谨记保罗的劝勉：“你们务要警醒，在真道上站立得稳”（哥林多前书16章13节），彼得也同样提醒我们：“务要谨守、警醒，因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。”（彼得前书5章8节）

当我们为生活而忙碌时，是否过于专注某些事物而失去警觉呢？我们是否时时省察自己，免得过于自信或自满，以为不需要信靠上帝，以致后悔莫及？

主啊，求祢帮助我们，能远离内心的罪恶与自私。
因着祢的恩典，求祢让我们在受试探的时候，
生命得以成长，让我们更有基督的样式。

Genesis 3:1-7New International Version (NIV)

The Fall

3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals theLord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

整理：于姊妹