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GOD-TRACKING IS STAYING ALERT
by Dudley Anderson GodTracker 654 20 October 2017 Ephesians 5:13-14 With bloodied sweat on his brow, Jesus made his way the few paces back to his friends who he’d ask to join him in prayer in the olive grove. He’d been travailing before the Father for hours. It was well past midnight and he knew that he would soon be arrested, tried, convicted and crucified for crimes he’d never committed. "Could you men not keep watch with me?" he asked them. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." John and his two friends, James and Peter had sat down a stone’s throw away from Jesus and watched him pray. They had a feeling that something dreadful was about to take place, but fatigue had overtaken them. Sadly, they could not keep their eyes open at this late hour, leaving Jesus to face the cup of God’s wrath, alone. Many years later well after Peter and James had been martyred, the risen and ascended Jesus Christ appeared to John in a vision on the Greek Isle of Patmos. Before he revealed to John what would come at the end of all time, Jesus gave John instructions to the churches of Asia Minor. To the church in Sardis he said, “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.” I can’t help wondering if John thought back to that auspicious moment in Gethsemane when he had fallen asleep watching the Son of God bear the weight of wrath. As we track God’s purposes we often become blasé about his commands and instructions. We become so familiar with prayer, worship and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit that we fall asleep in our complacency. The danger of this is that we miss the blessings of God and fail to follow his plans. We are told to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author of our faith. If we lose focus of the Saviour we will become weak and open ourselves to the arrest of the enemy. Let’s open ourselves rather to God’s word. And God’s word to us today is to “Wake up! Strengthen what remains.” God-tracking is staying alert READ ALL ABOUT IT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God-tracking Through the Year - year one & TWO 52-WEEKLY THOUGHTS BY DUDLEY ANDERSON DON’T GIVE UP, LOOK UP & PRAY I shake myself awake and strengthen what remains, for I believe that you are coming soon, Lord Jesus “Dear God, I am sorry for my slumber. I apologise for my apathy and repent of becoming complacent about your Word, worship, prayer and fellowship. You have saved me by the blood of Jesus and I have been taking this fact for granted. I am so sorry, O Lord. I stir myself awake now. I rouse myself to enjoy every moment with you as though it was the moment I first asked Jesus into my life. Help me to celebrate every living minute in the freshness of your presence. Help me to live every day with my eyes on Jesus. And help me to make the most of every occasion for the Gospel. I shake myself awake and strengthen what remains, for I believe that you are coming soon, Lord Jesus. Amen.” ---------------------------- Listen to the Sixty-Second GodTracker radio spots at…
Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa Dudley Anderson began writing for radio in 1994. Dudley currently writes a weekly e-mail Christian motivational thought called GodTracker and has complied 2 devotional books based on GodTracker. More information at surereaity.net Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |