Ephesians 5:14-18 “Awake thou that sleeps and arise from the dead, and God shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Wisdom is justified of her children, and in the reality of this life we live, men and women may get saved, but are not compelled to go forward in truth, putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. Proverbs 6:6-11 is powerful this morning. “Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise. Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travails, and they want as an armed man.” What were those who followed Christ called? Disciples! Gee, even when they were told to wait, they wanted to follow Him who called them and didn’t want to miss out on anything. How about you? Are you hungry for truth?

       In all of our lives there comes a period of laziness, or a spirit of laziness invades our soul. Often it passes quickly, but at times can become a great hindrance to our spiritual walk, so when I write this I am speaking to Christians as well as those lost in the darkness of this life. When people get saved, often they don’t have a clue to who they are, but reality is this: “ According as he hath chosen us in Him from before the foundation of the world, that they should be holy and without blame, before Him, in love:” How great is that love? (Ephesians 1:4) It was great enough to transfer you out of darkness into His marvelous light, and we read about that in 1 Peter 2:9. Who did he transfer of our darkness? Those who believe on Him and receive Him as their Savior. We are talking about Jesus! Listen to verse 10. “Which in time past were not a people, but now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” God gives mercy severally as he will, and he calls those to himself, and yet sad to say, there are those that continue not in the Word as a disciple, but lust for the things of the world. Very often the Holy Spirit by conviction, turns the erring one back to truth, but at times there are those who continue in a path that leaves them without hope. Pastor, I thought that God looses none of his sheep? You are right, but there are some who becomes followers but are never converted! If you recall reading about Christ followers, we have the parable of the sower of the seed. “The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” Also some are choked with the cares and riches of this life, and the pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. The devil has a plan, but God knows his own, and keeps them. I am not talking about isolated issues, but of those who turn their backs to Christ and follow no more. There are those who stumble, repent and keep going forward in the plan and will of God who will and have inherited eternal life. God is for us and never against us. Be diligent as a disciple of Christ, and listen to His voice as he speaks to you by the Spirit of God. Continue in the Word of God as a disciple, and your confidence will grow, and the Holy Spirit of God will order your steps in the Lord. Christ does not lose his own who He purchased with His own blood.

           This morning I write after being up quite late last night, having had three adopted grandchildren with me. These are children by adoption because their mom’s mom was lost to cancer, and I promised I would take care of the two daughters. I have and will continue because it is the right thing to do. But not having them around for a season made me realize how tiring it can be with three running around and having needs. One of the boys had a birthday yesterday, and he was guessing he would have a cake, but you should have seen his face when he saw the cake. It lite up like a huge beacon or a lighthouse, and we just sat and rejoiced to see him so happy. God looks in at us and hopes to bless us with the gifts of grace and he observes and sees the joy expressed on our face. Are you smiling at God this morning rejoicing in what you have received from him? If not, go back to the word and let God’s light shine in unto you and believe!