On Guard

DEVOTION

THE BOOK OF ACTS

ON GUARD

Acts 20:25-31

25 "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.   27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

NIV

Although Paul was specifically talking to the elders of the church in Ephesus, or what we would call today the Pastors or shepherds of the church, this is still a good lesson for all of us, especially those of us who are the head of our households. This can also apply to those who lead small groups, or bible studies, Sunday school classes or even have occasions to be able to preach from time to time. All of us have a certain responsibility for the spiritual welfare of those who hear our voice and see or watch our lives. We all need to be on guard against those who would be considered savage wolves who would decimate the flock. There were men in Paul’s time and there are certainly many today who would steal the flock and draw people onto themselves for the sake of fame and fortune. But there are also those who simply would like for people to believe them to be spiritual giants, or knowledgeable in biblical matters. Either case many have a distorted view of the gospel and are spreading something other than the truth. Although many would say there are numerous ways in which we can interpret the scriptures, which surely must be the cause for the huge number of different denominations, but the simple fact is there is but one God, One Son and he has but one truth and his Spirit will lead us into all that truth. Paul told them he declared the whole will of God to them, the whole truth. We have the whole truth, the whole will of God and we must make sure those who are entrusted in our care, are not drawn away by false teachers, false doctrine or erroneous interpretations. But that also implies we have an awesome responsibility to listen to the Spirit and thus know the truth, the whole will of God. We must always be on guard.