You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. – James 5:8
Standing firm is what stands out to me in this verse. We must stand firm. We must be diligent. We must be lights for Jesus in this world that grows darker by the second. We must! Why? Easy…The Lord is coming soon. He will come like a thief in the night. He will come when we least expect it. Are we ready for Him? Will be awake, alert, and ready? Or will we be caught sleeping?
In the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46) Jesus talks about “sleeping.” He is just about to take on the sin of the world and His heart is heavy. He leaves His disciples to keep watch while He goes to pray. When He returns they are sleeping. He tells them to wake up and keep watch, and then he goes back to pray. He comes back a second time and they are sleeping again! He becomes very disappointed in them and warns them not to sleep, but to keep watch lest they fall into temptation. (I encourage you to read these few Scriptures.)
Why would the Lord want us to know of this event near the end of His life here on earth?
Jesus is speaking of much more than just this moment in time with His disciples. He is speaking to us, His Body, the Church. He is warning us to be alert and keep watch. He is warning us not to fall asleep and allow those little foxes to come in and spoil our vines. He does not want us to fall asleep and allow the world to lull is into friendship with them. He does not want us to fall asleep and adopt the ways of this world at the expense of God’s Word. We need to be on watch!
Revelation 16:15 – Behold I am going to come like a thief in the night. Blessed is he who stays awake an alert and who guards his clothes, so that he may not be naked and have the shame of being seen exposed!
We do not know when Jesus is coming back, but we do know that He is. If we read the Word, we also know that it is sooner than it has ever been. We must also realize that the devil is also VERY aware of his soon coming end, and he is working overtime to lull us to sleep. He does not want us alert in these final days. He wants us weak so that he can swoop in for a surprise attack. Don’t let this happen to you.
Wake up if you are slumbering. Stand firm for righteousness in these days. Make right choices. Put the Word and morality first. Forget money. Forget stuff. Forget all that belongs to this world and stand form for Jesus. Tell others that they can spend eternity with a Savior that loves them more than anyone else could. Open your mouth people.
This world is on a fast track to hell. This world NEEDS Jesus! Who else can share it with them? No one! Only HIS children? Where are His children? WHERE? They MUST be sleeping! They must be. If they were awake, would abortion even be up for debate? If they were would they stand for more debt on this country when the Word of the Most High God CLEARLY speaks against debt? If they were awake would the visual and verbal pollution be tolerated everywhere we look??? I think not!
You are like unfaithful wives having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God. – James 4:4
WAKE UP!
Stay alert and be ready for the Master’s return.
Let’s Pray,
Daddy God, help me to stay alert and awake. Help me to not be weak and be caught sleeping on my watch. Help me, Lord. Help me to be strong in battle and not let my adversary have any advantage. I want to be ready and alert when the enemy comes knocking and ready for Your return. Help Your children to wake up as well from their slumber! Help us to be strong for You and make a difference. Help us Lord. Protect us Lord. AWAKEN US LORD!!!! Thank You for Your Love and Strength. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
Homework:
Study and memorize: You are like unfaithful wives having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God. – James 4:4
Dig deeper and ask the Lord how you can be an effect servant. Ask Him to open your eyes and help you to see HIS will and to understand HIS Word. Ask Him to help you to not adapt to this World, but to stand for HIM. Ask Him to bring HIS light to topics that the world so vehemently stands for. Put HIM before ALL.
Study His Word!
Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved
Great post!
Thanks for the reminder. No one can hear this too much no matter how diligent. It’s nice to find blogs of such worthy content. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for this post. I just discovered this site and I love it!