September 15 - Watched.

Luke 6:7
“And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.”
 
Have you ever noticed bird circling over the same wooded area for an extended period of time? They are carefully watching over their intended target, waiting for just the right moment to pounce on their victim.
 
The scribes and Pharisees watched Jesus like hawks watch their prey. 
They desired to find something, anything, that they could hold against Him.
 
Luke 11:54
“Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.”
 
Have you ever felt that way?
Or even noticed someone eyeballing your every move? Critiquing your every word?
 
Be encouraged that such things make us more like Jesus. 
 
John 15:18-19
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
 
There will be people who watch us with an agenda in mind. 
Commit them to the Lord and allow Him to deal with their hearts.
 
2 Samuel 22:18
“He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.”
 
But may this also remind us that there are also some who watch us for the example we are setting for them.
 
1 Timothy 4:12
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
 
2 Timothy 3:14
“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”
 
Everyone needs a Paul, a mentor, to learn from, but everyone also needs a Timothy to teach.
 
Instead of focusing on those who seek to do you harm, concern yourself more with those who seek to follow you as you follow the Lord.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 11-12   |    Revelation 21