March 28
Sober-minded
Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
––Ephesians 5:18-20, nlt
I have brothers in Christ who sit on both sides of the alcohol debate: many don’t drink at all, and some drink occasionally. Whatever side you are on, we can all agree on one thing: the Bible advises against getting drunk. Paul was clear on that. Instead of being full of drink, we are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We do this by confessing our sins to another, surrendering each day to God’s will, and asking Him to move through us, speak to us, and guide us.
The opposite of being drunk with wine, of course, is being sober. When we hear that word we typically associate it with drugs or alcohol. But the Apostle Peter uses the term a bit differently when he admonishes the believers of Asia Minor:
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
And in Romans Paul says,
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment. ––Romans 12:3
In these cases—and others in the New Testament—the terms “sober” and “sober-minded” are associated with a way of thinking and behaving. The need here is to be alert or on your toes—to be self-aware and clear-headed.
It’s great advice for every man of God: to be aware that we have an adversary, and to maintain a realistic, balanced view of oneself. When we see how Paul and Peter used the term, it takes on a whole new meaning. It is both an adjective (act in a sober-minded fashion) and a verb (to sober up and be spiritually alert). To live as a sober-minded man of God means we take a balanced approach to life, not taking lightly the enemy who is always on the prowl, but while also walking in confidence and “spiritual awareness” in our thoughts and actions.
Father, help me to be sober-minded in my actions and deeds, aware of the enemy, but bold and confident in the fact that my strength comes from You.
I cannot help but think of Philippians 2:3 – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility value others as better than yourself. Pride is the door by which the great enemy enters my mind and slowly corrodes my thinking into sinning (lack of soberness). Thank you for this devotional and the reminder to be vigilant and sober-minded.
Thankyou for your time in and the words of wisdom you share daily. These devotions are the start of me and my men everyday for the last 2 years.
Thank you brother i haven’t been doing my daily quiet time with God, and this morning i read your daily devotion and it really striked me hard. I’ve got to be sober minded, meaning to say, stay alert, the devil is distracting me a lot.But as a Christian believer I’ve already accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour Ive got to be strong and say no to the devil. Thank you once again for this wonderful devotion.
The idea of being filled with the Holy Spirit in place of being filled with alcohol really hit home for me. It’s a great challenge to ask ourselves how we can better invite God into our day-to-day lives.
Peter’s call to life.
I really appreciate how this post reframes ‘sober-mindedness’ beyond just alcohol—it’s a call to spiritual attentiveness. That reminder from 1 Peter really hits home in a world full of distractions.
I really appreciate how this post reframes ‘sober-mindedness’ beyond just alcohol—it’s a reminder that spiritual clarity is essential in resisting the enemy’s schemes. It challenged me to think more intentionally about what I’m filling myself with each day.
I appreciate the distinction between simply being sober from substances and living with a sober mind. It’s a great reminder that spiritual clarity and vigilance are just as important as physical sobriety.