As I mentioned earlier, I live within blocks of a fire station that serves a large metropolitan area. I am so accustomed to the sirens whizzing by that I no longer awaken from my sleep as fire trucks and ambulances race below me at night. I blissfully sleep on in the safety of my cosy bed. It is only when an emergency vehicle pulls to a stop in front of my high-rise that I stir.
In contrast, firefighters and paramedics jump into action at the first ring of an alarm. They reach for cumbersome safety gear instead of their pillow and blanket. It would be ridiculous for them to presume that someone else will take their place if they decided they just didn’t feel like getting out of bed. As they shake off the vestige of sleep and head out in the chilly night air, they well know they might not return to their cot at the fire hall. At best, a call will keep them away from their much-needed sleep for several hours. At worst, they could lay down their lives for the sake of others.
First responders keep their bodies and minds physically fit through proper diet, exercise, and rest. They constantly train to hone their skills. Their equipment and vehicles are maintained in immaculate working order. Regular inspections ensure every hose, nozzle, and coupling is ready when needed. Paramedics check and re-check their medical inventory. Police officers attend routine target practice, hoping they will never have to fire their weapons in the line of duty. Family and friends of emergency workers join in their sacrifice. Family dinners are interrupted; late nights out with friends are rare.
Firefighters and paramedics go about their daily routines when on duty: cooking communal meals, cleaning equipment, joking with their fellow crew members, and maybe watching a football game or two. Most halls have fitness equipment and study areas. When an alarm sounds, they drop everything. Meals are left uneaten, routine chores are abandoned, and the last quarter of the Super Bowl is ignored.
If they have not prepared themselves long before the alarm sounds first responders will fail, placing not just their lives in jeopardy but the lives of those who await their help.
God has served notice to all believers. We are His first responders, and He expects us to stay alert and ready. As we go about our everyday lives, playing, raising families and fellowshipping with friends, He reminds us – we are on call. We must keep a daily regimen of wholesome and nutritious food for our spirits and our souls by spending time in His Word. We must enter into His training program of prayer and intercession for He knows it is only through practice that we hone our skills. He encourages us to refrain from unhealthy movies, risqué music, mindless television, negative thinking, and idle gossip. These distractions dull our spiritual ears and slow our response to His alarm.
We might be tempted to snuggle deeper under our blankets when God sounds the alarm. By choosing not to slumber, we become catalysts of God’s healing and restoration in the lives of those who so desperately need His saving power.
Personal Application
Spend some time pondering the following verses asking yourself the following questions.
Do I need to shake the dust off my heart and spirit?
Am I feeling foggy and a bit out of it?
Do I feel one step behind those who seem to be more aware of what is going on in spiritual realms?
Is it tempting to just stay in that foggy half awake state because I don’t want to face the reality of the state of my heart and the world around me?
Wake up! Rise up! Fight your way out of that dangerous spiritual sleep state and decide to take heed His clarion call.
We no longer have the luxury to be the half-asleep people of the Kingdom. We no longer have the right to expect someone else to take up the slack because of our laziness or reluctance to see the world through His eyes.
1 Peter 5:8 (MSG) – “Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up.”
Isaiah 52:1-2 (ESV) – “Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated, O Jerusalem, loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion. Emphasis mine
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Don’t forget. Follow me on my personal timeline on Facebook. You do not need to send me a friend request to follow me although I welcome friend requests please message me there to say you know me from the website or email list! Here is the Facebook link.
If you are coming here from Facebook, you might not be aware that you can receive these weekly devotions via email. Sometimes, Facebook doesn’t show my links to these devotionals and so you might not see when I post something new. How to fix that? Sign up for my weekly email that not only includes a devotional but also seven quotes from prominent authors, speakers, and heroes of our faith. I do not use this mailing list for any other purpose!
All Bible verses attributed to the ESV version unless otherwise indicated.
Until Next Week
©2018 Katherine Walden
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