Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
Romans 13:11 (ESV)
Romans 13:11 (ESV)
We punch in at work, several hours later we punch out. We wake in the morning to a pile of laundry and an endless list of household tasks. We end the day with many tasks finished, and many more to tackle tomorrow. We walk to the mailbox and return with a pile of bills, only to return later with a pile of checks to mail out. We shovel the sidewalk currently filled with snow, go grocery shopping, shuttle the kids to piano lessons, attend choir practice, and schedule a much needed doctor's appointment. Our days are filled with hustle, bustle, busyness, chaos--why does Scripture command us to "wake up" when it seems we never sleep?
Because, simply, Scriptures defines everything in the above paragraph as "sleep". God is calling on Christians to recognize that life has a tendency to 'dull' the senses. We become so consumed with living daily life that we become unconscious ('fall asleep to') the spiritual reality around us.
What is that reality? The reality is that Jesus is on the move! He has won a decisive victory against Satan, flesh, and death. He has brought love, joy, peace, and (most importantly) hope. The reality is that Jesus is currently making plans for his grand sequel, for his return to this place to gather all who belong to him.
Saint Benedict wrote, "Let us arise, then, at last, for the Scripture stirs us up, saying, 'Now is the hour for us to rise from sleep'. Let us open our eyes to the deifying light, let us hear with attentive ears the warning which the divine voice cries daily to us...." [1]
Today, this day, awake from the slumber of daily life. Remember, dear Christian, that your master, your friend, your groom, your Savior, your Lord is coming back for you. Will he find you asleep when he comes? Or, will he find you ready? Will he find you actively serving him and living a holy life that is pleasing to him? Awake!
[1] From The Rule of Saint Benedict (Liturgical Press, 2001), p 14.
Because, simply, Scriptures defines everything in the above paragraph as "sleep". God is calling on Christians to recognize that life has a tendency to 'dull' the senses. We become so consumed with living daily life that we become unconscious ('fall asleep to') the spiritual reality around us.
What is that reality? The reality is that Jesus is on the move! He has won a decisive victory against Satan, flesh, and death. He has brought love, joy, peace, and (most importantly) hope. The reality is that Jesus is currently making plans for his grand sequel, for his return to this place to gather all who belong to him.
Saint Benedict wrote, "Let us arise, then, at last, for the Scripture stirs us up, saying, 'Now is the hour for us to rise from sleep'. Let us open our eyes to the deifying light, let us hear with attentive ears the warning which the divine voice cries daily to us...." [1]
Today, this day, awake from the slumber of daily life. Remember, dear Christian, that your master, your friend, your groom, your Savior, your Lord is coming back for you. Will he find you asleep when he comes? Or, will he find you ready? Will he find you actively serving him and living a holy life that is pleasing to him? Awake!
[1] From The Rule of Saint Benedict (Liturgical Press, 2001), p 14.
WOW Josh, that was beautifully written!!! Thanks for that encouraging, yet spurring call to living out Gods word.
ReplyDeleteIt is SO easy to get caught up in the hum drum of life and not see that our opportunities to serve are flying by.
I really like that sentence you wrote- "The reality is that Jesus is on the move!" (Very well written in true C.S. Lewis style.:))
Thanks for your committment to the global church. I'm grateful that even though I don't attend your local assembly, I can still glean!!!!
Blessings to you and your family.
Deb Wordhouse