Sleepwalking Through Life

I have never seen anyone sleepwalk before and I have never known anyone who had this habit. I have only seen it portrayed on television. But imagine getting some food from the refrigerator, preparing something to eat, and then eating it, all the while you are asleep and don’t really know what is going on. Yet, we are all guilty of a form of sleepwalking through life. Sometimes we do things out of habit, or just without thinking about it. In a deeper sense, unless we are tuned into the source of knowledge and wisdom, we are sleepwalking through life, just doing what the world expects or what we desire.

Ephesians 5:14 says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Before trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we are spiritually dead. Once we believe, He makes us alive through His own resurrection. Then, we can receive His light in truth and wisdom.

Imitation is Sincerest Form of Flattery

If you have children, then you have likely seen some traits in them that remind you of yourself. Many of these traits are passed down through our DNA, but many traits are also learned from their parents. Kids have an uncanny knack for mimicing what they see in us and others, of course, especially if they love the person that they are imitating.

Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” God loved us so much that He gave His only Son to die for us that we might live. He has adopted as His children those who trust in this sacrifice. We can love Him in return by walking in His steps and loving Him wholeheartedly.

Good or Evil

For much of my life, I have heard many people say that people are inherently good. Recently, many people have changed their minds about that saying and now believe that people have a strong capacity for evil. At the same time, we see much public debate about what is good and evil. I have noticed that the definitions of what is good and what is evil change over time, as cultural values change. Most of this value change is toward evil, not away from it.

Psalm 96:10 says, “Say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.” Only the God who reigns over heaven and earth is qualified to judge what is good and what is evil. We must look to Him to understand righteousness and to follow in its ways.

Let’s Make a Deal

The television show, “Let’s Make a Deal”, offered great prizes for those who were selected and willing to risk a lot. At the end of each show, a lucky contestant had the choice of unseen prizes behind three doors. If they chose wisely, they received a great prize. But, if they chose unwisely, they received a worthless prize.

Romans 5:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Through faith in Jesus Christ we receive forgiveness for our sins and thereby know peace with God. Also, through Jesus we receive grace and rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. We have a choice to make. If we choose wisely, we will choose faith in Jesus Christ, receiving faith, love, and hope.

Dark Clouds

It is quite a sight to see dark clouds on the horizon, knowing that they are bringing unpleasant weather your way. The dark clouds of struggles and circumstances can also bring a sense of forboding into our hearts. We can become so caught up on these dark clouds that our mindset and emotions also become dark. It is tough to find light amidst these dark clouds.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 says, “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the field and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” The prophet, Habakkuk, is imagining every thing that could go wrong for his people who depend upon farming. And Habakkuk says that in the middle of this disaster He will still rejoice in the Lord and take joy in His salvation. In the midst of our troubles, we also can find joy in the Lord and in His salvation. Knowing He is with us and is faithful to all His promises can give us the joy that we seek.