Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. Romans 13:11a

Most of us hate to be nagged by another person. We don’t want somebody giving us orders and telling us what to do.

About the only thing worse than being nagged by another person is being criticized and ordered about by an inanimate object. Even so, the engineers at Saab and Volvo are designing vehicles that will nag and nag and nag. Of course, the automakers maintain their vehicles will only do a good kind of nagging–the kind of nagging that is for the driver’s own good.

Maybe they’re right. According to an article carried last week by Forbes Auto, 25 to 30% of all vehicle crashes list drowsiness as a contributing factor. For that reason, some cars may soon come equipped with a device that monitors your shut eye. That’s right, shut eye. The vehicle will have an unobtrusive monitor watching over your eyes.

If your eyelids stay shut for longer than normal, a chime will go off and a light on your dash will ask, “Tired?”

If you keep dozing, the second warning will state: “You are tired.” The third warning scolds, “You are dangerously tired! Stop as soon as it is safe to do so!” I haven’t been able to find out if there is a fourth and final warning which says, “I’ve just called the police. If you won’t listen to me, maybe their sirens and lights will wake you up.”

For centuries the church has tried various methods to wake souls from their spiritual stupor.

Powerful preachers have pounded their pulpits and serious shepherds of the Savior have tried appealing to logic or emotion to let people know they were dozing.

In spite of our best attempts, people still continue to doze. They remain unaware of the eternal danger to their souls and remain asleep.

That is why preaching to sleepers can become discouraging for pastors, for families, for congregations.

In spite of the feeling of futility which can creep in on us, the Lord has told His people to keep on trying, keep on sharing, keep on reaching out, keep on telling the world that God has sent His Son so they might be saved from death and damnation.

It may sound like nagging to them, but we’re just trying to save their lives.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, there are so many I know and love who are still spiritually asleep. If possible, I pray that You will let me share the Gospel so they might be awakened. To that end I place them, and myself, into Your hands, trusting the Holy Spirit will use the Means of Grace to touch them. In the Name of the Savior, I pray these things. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 74-76    Revelation 5

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