Awaken Sleeping Giant
“And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11
Greetings, Dear Ladies!
We are here today to continue our discussion of getting ourselves ready to take on the times at hand. The question was asked in our previous segment, “Are we prepared for the days to come?” To answer this, I described how we can spiritually outfit ourselves to face whatever comes our way. This means putting on the full armor of God. The armor, or “garments” we wrap ourselves in are truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God and prayer. We dress to protect ourselves from the elements before we walk out our door, correct? As such, we are to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 13:14
We can now step out into the world with the confidence that comes from knowing and following Christ. What do we see around us? We want to clearly identify what is happening, both in our homes and in our world. Are there issues that are of deep concern? What do we see and experience that brings us joy and comfort? When we approach life with a God-centered perspective, we are much better equipped to handle its ups and downs. So first we will identify some areas that may be of concern.
Godlessness seems to be increasing. We don’t need to list myriad statistics to understand that churches are not as full as they used to be. Through the airwaves we learn of rising crime due to the alarming disregard for the sanctity of life. Many feel (erroneously) that the Bible is passe and irrelevant in today’s times.
The blurring line between truth and lies is also of grave concern. Feelings often take precedence over facts. Genesis 1:26 tells us that we are made in the image of God. James, a brother and follower of Jesus, states the same (James 3:9). There are, of course, many facets of God. As it relates here, we are created with the ability to reason and to choose, to think and know right from wrong. We have a sense of morality and a conviction of justice. We are created with the capacity to love with a heart like His.
Satan is called the father of lies. John 8:44 Lying and deception are his cardinal weapons against us and he is very good at these. Dear ones, don’t give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:27 Know truth and discernment and put to good use the attributes our Creator has so graciously blessed us with. And praise Him for His loving generosity!
Culture wars can target the family, which is a basic institution designed by God. Revisiting Genesis, God lays out this design (Genesis 2:20-25) and His instruction (Genesis 1:28). His perfect plan for us is that through loving commitment we can “be fruitful and multiply.” Because we live in an imperfect and sinful world, this is not always the case. But a relationship with Jesus Christ can give us the tools to persevere. “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 This brings us to observing the things which make us happy. When we have the love of God and the light of Jesus Christ in us, we can see beauty all around us: in nature, in the smiles and laughter of children, in the warm hug from a friend. I came across a beautiful quote which reads,
“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sweet friends, success is ours when we know and love Jesus Christ and strive to emulate His love for others. When we let Him work through us, our hearts become tender, and we can witness the purity of this love. We strengthen our faith, giving us greater hope in His promise to be with us always. “And surely I am with you, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
Today and always, we are charged to love God and love others. “…And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 To do this we need to remain alert and be involved. The apostle Paul instructs his student Timothy, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV Some versions record “sound mind” KJV or “self-control”. ESV Whichever way it is translated from the original Greek, we are to understand that a large part of God’s plan for us is to teach others about the love of Jesus Christ, practice discernment in regards to the truth and maintain awareness of where we are headed as a society. Let us tap into the strength of the promised Holy Spirit and forge ahead. Let us commit to fight the good fight!
Your sister in Christ,
Cynthia
