Keep Alert!
Reading: Revelation 15, 16
My Verse: "Behold, I am going to come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake (alert) and who guards his clothes, so that he may not be naked and seen exposed! (16:15)
Here is the third blessing of Revelation. Amidst all the amazing things that are happening here, time out is taken to issue this warning in the form of a blessing. Again I am brought back to the flood, how people there were caught unawares. It is so easy to get caught up in the daily busyness of our lives and push You out LORD God. You appeal to us here to stay awake to what is happening around us, stay awake to our spiritual needs and Your call to us.
You are coming like a thief. No one knows the hour, only You. This does not mean that we put all aside and sit and wait. No we must live our lives as You would have us to - full abundant lives. "I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance" (John 10:10).
And yet we must live worshipful lives. You must be a vital part of our life. It is only by living for You that we can live truly abundant lives and at the same time be alert to and ready for Your return. For without You in our lives we are as the dead. You teach us this throughout Your Word. I Timothy 5:6 says. "Whereas she who lives in pleasure and self-gratification is dead even while she lives." Ephesians 5:14 says. "Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and He shall shine upon you and give you light." Yes, You LORD God are "the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6).
What does "guards his clothes" mean? I take this to be the things that I must do to keep alert and ready for Your return, Lord Jesus. I must examine my heart daily, lay myself bare before You and seek Your guidance through my day. This could be through the reading of Your word, through prayer, and through fellowship with other Christians. I know that I fall short here. I do not always set aside time for this reassessment of where I am spiritually. Help me, Lord, to prioritize this.
Finally, it speaks here of being caught naked and exposed! No one wants their sins exposed to the world! We are so sure that on one else knows all those little slips and missteps we commit along the way. You must have to smile at that because You see all and know all. We are so bare before You.
It is so less stressful to live in Your Light! No worries about someone finding out my latest mishap! Help me Lord to be clean before You. Help me to be that person in Psalm 24:4. "He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully."
Thank You, LORD God for this blessing. I know that with Your help I can stay awake and be alert until Your return.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Reading: Revelation 15, 16
My Verse: "Behold, I am going to come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake (alert) and who guards his clothes, so that he may not be naked and seen exposed! (16:15)
Here is the third blessing of Revelation. Amidst all the amazing things that are happening here, time out is taken to issue this warning in the form of a blessing. Again I am brought back to the flood, how people there were caught unawares. It is so easy to get caught up in the daily busyness of our lives and push You out LORD God. You appeal to us here to stay awake to what is happening around us, stay awake to our spiritual needs and Your call to us.
You are coming like a thief. No one knows the hour, only You. This does not mean that we put all aside and sit and wait. No we must live our lives as You would have us to - full abundant lives. "I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance" (John 10:10).
And yet we must live worshipful lives. You must be a vital part of our life. It is only by living for You that we can live truly abundant lives and at the same time be alert to and ready for Your return. For without You in our lives we are as the dead. You teach us this throughout Your Word. I Timothy 5:6 says. "Whereas she who lives in pleasure and self-gratification is dead even while she lives." Ephesians 5:14 says. "Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and He shall shine upon you and give you light." Yes, You LORD God are "the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6).
What does "guards his clothes" mean? I take this to be the things that I must do to keep alert and ready for Your return, Lord Jesus. I must examine my heart daily, lay myself bare before You and seek Your guidance through my day. This could be through the reading of Your word, through prayer, and through fellowship with other Christians. I know that I fall short here. I do not always set aside time for this reassessment of where I am spiritually. Help me, Lord, to prioritize this.
Finally, it speaks here of being caught naked and exposed! No one wants their sins exposed to the world! We are so sure that on one else knows all those little slips and missteps we commit along the way. You must have to smile at that because You see all and know all. We are so bare before You.
It is so less stressful to live in Your Light! No worries about someone finding out my latest mishap! Help me Lord to be clean before You. Help me to be that person in Psalm 24:4. "He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully."
Thank You, LORD God for this blessing. I know that with Your help I can stay awake and be alert until Your return.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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