Isaiah 56:10
His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
What good is a watch dog that doesn't watch? Or even worse, one that watches, but can't bark to save its life when it does see something?
Christians need to have their heads on a swivel. They need to be situationally aware with eyes in their heads to see what's going on.
1 Chronicles 12:32
And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.
Not only should Christians see what's up and know what to do about it, but they should also have the ability to bark about what they see. A mute dog who can see the danger approaching is not a good watch dog. He might mean well, but he can't guard well. And if he cannot guard, he is a failure as far as a watchdog goes. He cannot save those he loves by wishing them well.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
Men are on guard.
Men keep watch.
They stand firm by grace through faith.
They act like men by being strong.
They retain their bark and their bite.
They know how to howl when they see trouble and they know what to do about it if their yells don't chase it away.
Love stands between the danger the beloved.
Love barks.
Love bites.
Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare ourselves for trial.
Let us neither be dogs that do not bark, nor silent onlookers,
nor paid servants who run away before the wolf.
Instead, where the battle rages, let us find ourselves.
Run towards the roar of the lion!
Run towards the roar of battle!
That is where Christ's most glorious victories shall be won!
— St. Boniface
The household of faith needs watch dogs with marks backed up by bite.
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