"Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God." (Revelation 3:2)
These are Jesus' words to the church at Sardis, calling them out of spiritual death (yes, it can happen) into new spiritual life (yes, it can happen). Not that many years had passed between the church in Acts 2 and Pentecost, and the church in Revelation 3 and Patmos (the place John is writing from), yet Jesus still must warn them to "Wake up".
And he (Jesus) came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:37-38)
The disciples of Jesus had long been with him, and seen and heard all that he did, yet Jesus still needs to stir them up to "Watch and pray”.
It doesn't take long for neither Christians of any spiritual maturity nor for the church of Jesus Christ in any century, to slip into sleepiness or lukewarmness.
Prayer is, therefore, that which must be consistently engaged in at all costs, in all times.
Prayer is not simply the guiding principle of our lives – when we need an answer or are in trouble – but prayer is the operational principle of our lives. It keeps us alert and aware; makes us present and sensitive to God, to His will, and to His kingdom.
Prayer is never optional for the people of God. Praying is not simply a question of "staying alive", but of being alive. The life of Jesus and of the Spirit both "pushes" (urges) us towards prayer and "pulls" (attracts) us into prayer.
It is a good day to pray!
Recent Comments