Gatekeepers

The temple of God is holy, which temple you are.       — 1 Corinthians 3:17

In journalism, the term gatekeeper refers to reporters, editors, and publishers who consider various news items and determine which stories are newsworthy. Some long-time news professionals warn that the Internet allows information to get through without being checked at the gate.

In Old Testament times, gatekeepers guarded the temple to prevent those who were unclean from entering (2 Chron. 23:19). In AD 70, the temple was destroyed by the Roman armies of Emperor Titus. But the destruction began years earlier when the Levites assigned to guard it failed to do so after coming under the corrupt influence of the Syrian king Antiochus IV.

Paul called our bodies God’s “temple” (1 Cor. 3:16-17), and many forces are at work to assault God’s new dwelling. Evil may gain a foothold through unfortified areas of our spiritual life — places where envy, strife, or divisions may undermine us (3:3). Each of us must be on guard against the enemy of our souls and never give place to the devil (Eph. 4:27).

The criteria for what may enter is found in Philippians 4:8 — whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. The resulting peace will guard the gate of our hearts and minds. — Julie Ackerman Link

Help me to guard my troubled soul

By constant, active self-control

Clean up my thought, my speech, my play;

Lord, keep me pure from day to day.     — Thomas

READ: 1 Cor. 3:1-17

If you’re not on guard against evil you’ll be influenced by evil.

The Bible in one year:

• 1 Samuel 30-31

• Luke 13:23-35