Wake Up!

Wake Up!

Revelation 3: “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

 

“This is the message from the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know what you are doing; I know that you have the reputation of being alive, even though you are dead! ² So wake up, and strengthen what you still have before it dies completely. For I find that what you have done is not yet perfect in the sight of my God. ³ Remember, then, what you were taught and what you heard; obey it and turn from your sins. If you do not wake up, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not even know the time when I will come. ⁴ But a few of you there in Sardis have kept your clothes clean. You will walk with me, clothed in white, because you are worthy to do so. ⁵ Those who win the victory will be clothed like this in white, and I will not remove their names from the book of the living. In the presence of my Father and of his angels I will declare openly that they belong to me.

 

⁶ “If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!

 

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After working all day, I went to visit someone. It took a while to get there and I spent most of the evening enjoying the time. It was late when I left and I had more than an hour to drive home. About fifty-five minutes into the trip I woke up driving up an exit ramp that was not mine. I slammed on brakes, rolled the window down and drove home locally.

 

• I thought I was awake, but I was sleep driving.
• I was lulled to sleep by the repetitious mileage.
• After waking up, I had to do something different!

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, quotes JESUS giving a warning to Sardis. This church thought they were alive, when they were really acting dead. They may have fallen into a false sense of security because of their reputation of being on fire, but JESUS saw they were not walking with HIM.

 

My Observations:

• JESUS wants me to remember what I was taught and what I heard about HIM.
• “My” reputation does not matter, rather doing GOD’s good and perfect will does.
• Waling with JESUS is important to HIM so I should choose to do this daily.

 

Thinking I am awake and being awake are two different things. I mean, I can be doing things that seem right, but I may, in fact, be going through the motions without my heart being filled with the presence of GOD. I can go to church, sing songs and give money without believing in the power of JESUS.

 

GOD wants me to “Wake up” to what JESUS has done and is doing in my life every day. HE wants me to turn from my sinful pats on my own back to see that I need help daily. HE wants me to return back to the days when I was on fire for the LORD because I had just accepted HIM as my Savior.

 

Challenge

• What reputation do you think the writer is speaking of?
• Have you ever thought you were doing GOD a favor by doing what feels comfortable to you?
• Will you return to the fire you once had for JESUS so you can make HIM known to many today?

Different Thinking

 

Different Thinking

Hebrews 7: ¹¹ It was on the basis of the levitical priesthood that the Law was given to the people of Israel. Now, if the work of the levitical priests had been perfect, there would have been no need for a different kind of priest to appear, one who is in the priestly order of Melchizedek,^[a] not of Aaron. ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, there also has to be a change in the law. ¹³ And our Lord, of whom these things are said, belonged to a different tribe, and no member of his tribe ever served as a priest. ¹⁴ It is well known that he was born a member of the tribe of Judah; and Moses did not mention this tribe when he spoke of priests.

 

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“Why go to church?” was my question. I finally got tired of the same messages of “being good” or “giving money.” There had to be more to life that what was being said. I stopped going and started “having fun.” My “fun” became more of a problem than I thought.

 

• I did not have a place to put my hope.
• I did not fill the hole that was in my heart.
• I had to rethink “church” versus my relationship with GOD.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, may have tried to address a way of thinking that could have been detrimental to many. People may have relied on a human priest to cleanse them of their sins through confession and sacrifice. He explained, there is a “different kind of priest”, one who did not belong to the tribe of priests, who would be the one to follow.

 

My Observations:

• Humans struggle trying to understand GOD, BUT HE reveals enough to show me HIS love.
• Love is greater than keeping the law, because the law was founded by love.
• I do not have to worry about trying to be perfect, because JESUS was perfect for me.

 

Blaming GOD or blaming people who believe in GOD is a problem. I mean, when I question why GOD does things, or I question those who are supposed to believe in GOD, yet act duplicitous, I can fall away from HIM. BUT GOD knows there are many things that can come up against my relationship with HIM.

 

HE patiently allows me to fall into holes that I think can pull me away from HIM. HE gently lifts me up and dusts me off to serve HIM and praise HIM another day. I am glad HE is willing to renew my mind and show me HIS love!

 

Challenge

• What way of thinking is the writer trying to address?
• Have you ever tried to blame GOD or blame “churchy” people?
• Will you look at GOD’s love and think differently about how you approach church and the beliefs you may or may not have today?

Useful Thinking

Useful Thinking

Philemon 1: ⁸ For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in Christ, to order you to do what should be done. ⁹ But because I love you, I make a request instead. I do this even though I am Paul, the ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his sake. ¹⁰ So I make a request to you on behalf of Onesimus, who is my own son in Christ; for while in prison I have become his spiritual father. ¹¹ At one time he was of no use to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

 

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Listening to the suggestions from the crowd, I began thinking of ways to get out of class and work. I wanted to play cards and hang out I got nervous when I was almost fired, so I straightened up temporarily.

 

• I hated my job, even though it paid the bills.
• I was constantly looking for ways to goof off or leave.
• I never thought of ways to improve the situation or to add value.

 

Paul humbly makes a request of Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. He describes Onesimus as being useful, but acknowledges that at one point in time he was not useful. Something change with Onesimus and he began serving Paul, the prisoner.

 

My Observations

• There are times when I want to complain, but this is useless to serving.
• There are times when I want to serve myself, but this is useless to drawing other people to GOD.
• There are times when I think only of myself and this type of thinking is useless  to helping other people.

 

Selfishness is blinding. I mean, the more I think of myself, I make excuses for not serving other people. In fact, I may even blame him or her for not serving me in the way “I” think I ought to be served. This type of thinking is useless to bringing people to GOD. Fortunately HE is so, so, so forgiving.

 

HE shows me my selfishness and opens my eyes to a plentiful harvest that HE wants to draw back to HIMSELF. HE show me the hurt and the lost and wants me to seek them and bring them to HIM. There are plenty to bring to HIM, but my eyes have to be opened. I am glad GOD includes me in HIS plan and forgives me when I think only of myself.

 

Challenge

• What tone is the writer taking?
• Have you ever felt sorry for yourself and felt you deserved more?
• Will you change your mindset and ask GOD “What do YOU want me to do for YOUR kingdom today?”

Knowing and Doing

 

Knowing and Doing

Romans 14: ¹⁴ We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a mortal, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do; for I don't do what I would like to do, but instead I do what I hate. ¹⁶ Since what I do is what I don't want to do, this shows that I agree that the Law is right. ¹⁷ So I am not really the one who does this thing; rather it is the sin that lives in me. ¹⁸ I know that good does not live in me—that is, in my human nature. For even though the desire to do good is in me, I am not able to do it. ¹⁹ I don't do the good I want to do; instead, I do the evil that I do not want to do. ²⁰ If I do what I don't want to do, this means that I am no longer the one who does it; instead, it is the sin that lives in me.

 

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“How old are you?’” was the very pointed question to me. Reading between the lines, I sensed the person was trying to point out my lack of experience. “Tell the truth” was the voice inside me. I added four years to my age, placing me in the group that was “experienced” but not “over-experienced.” This lie got me nowhere.

 

• Many times I know what is right but I do not do it.
• Many times I know the right way, but something pops up inside me and I go the wrong way.
• Many times I know how I could be successful, but I follow my instincts and fail.

 

Paul is expressing some serious pain in this passage. He explains that he knows the Law is holy and spiritual. He then explains that he has a desire to follow the Law but winds up breaking it because of the sin inside of him. He’s not the only one.

 

• GOD knows I have sin living inside me.
• GOD made my soul so HE is the only one who knows how to cure it.
• GOD knows how to handle the sins I so easily fall into.

 

All humans sin. As I stated many times before, “We are all in the mud, throwing mud at each other, saying ‘You have mud on you.’” I mean, we are all sinners trying to compare our sins to each other so we can tell other people they are sinners.

 

BUT GOD sees something different. HE sees my sins and loves me so much that HE wanted to save me from my destruction. HE knows I want and desire sin, even though I know the Law. To help me with the war inside me, GOD placed HIS HOLY SPIRIT in me to win the battles and the war. I am glad GOD cares enough about me to guide me back to HIS ways.

 

• Are you conflicted?
• Do you know the right thing to do but are afraid to do the right thing?
• Will you ask GOD for bravery to live for HIM so HE can help you win the war inside you today?

Do What You Gotta Do

Luke 19: ⁴⁵ When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. ⁴⁶ ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘“My house will be a house of prayer”; but you have made it “a den of robbers”.’

⁴⁷ Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. ⁴⁸ Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

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“This person seems like they are after me” I said with distress. I mean they treat me different than the rest. I added. “Fight back” were the words of human wisdom. “You don’t have to stand for that nonsense. You have to do what you gotta do.” After this advice, I was filled with rage. The conflict was on! I had to protect “myself.”

• There have been many times I have been filled with rage.
• There have been many times I have gotten mad at someone who was in charge.
• There have been many times I was told to do something, but the person giving the advice had rage inside of them.

JESUS entered the temple and saw what it had become. It was not a place where HIS people were being fed, rather it was a “den of robbers.” JESUS was filled with rage and began to drive out those who sold their stuff blatantly. The church leaders mentioned “GOD” but wanted to kill HIM. They too heard the words “Do what you gotta do.”

• GOD wants me to listen to HIM for advice.
• GOD wants me to put HIS word over my actions.
• GOD wants me to remove my rage and let HIM decide what HE wants to do with the oppressor.

Hate breeds more hate and those who love to hate people may not be able to recognize love. The church leaders hated JESUS enough to kill HIM because they wanted to protect themselves and their lifestyle. They were willing to do whatever it took to take control of the situation, even murder.

GOD wants me to check my heart and give my desires to HIM. HE does not want me to be so desperate that I would prey on HIS followers. GOD wants me to seek peace with HIM so I can pass it on to others. HE is my guide.

• Are you enraged by someone?
• Do you feel like you “gotta do what you gotta do?”
• Will you consult GOD before you add rage and hatred to your heart today?