For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6
Not so long ago, I read the report of a man who had died of smoke inhalation. It's not that nobody had tried to wake him up and get him out. His girlfriend had done just that. She told authorities that she had hit and shouted at him. But the most reaction she got was when he opened one eye and told her to leave him alone. Eventually, to save herself, she had to leave him and get out of the burning building.
That's a tragic story and one that bothers me. Not just for the young man who died, but because I see the same thing happening in the spiritual realm. There are multitudes of people who are sleeping their lives away while the building burns around them. As Christians who know the love of the Lord, we need to keep trying to get them up. They may only open an eye and tell us to leave them alone, but we can still pray for them. Won't you do that with me today. . .pray for someone who doesn't know he's in danger?
From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"
THE PRAYER: Dear God, there are many people in this world who are "sleeping their lives away while the building burns around them." As a Christian who knows the love of the Lord, I need to keep trying to get them up and warn them of the danger. As I seek to reach out to them, please instill Your knowledge and peace in me. In the Name of Your Son, Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Nahum 1-3 Acts 23:1-15
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