Some of you didn’t get enough sleep last night.
I certainly didn’t.
And so we’re drowsy just now and resisting the urge to crawl back into bed.
Why don’t we drop what we’re doing and head for the pillow?
We’ve got things to do, that’s why.
Things that are more important than the sleep we’d like to have but don’t HAVE to have.
Today’s reading from the One-Year Bible spoke about the idea of sleep.
“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:35-37)
The larger context of this passage involves Jesus’ instruction to His disciples regarding the end of the world and how He would return in great power to gather the redeemed before the earth and all of physical creation is destroyed.
Jesus, knowing the inclinations of mankind, anticipated that many would get wrapped up in trying to figure out when “the Son of Man” would return. That’s why He spoke the words above.
It’s obvious that Jesus was right about this tendency toward obsession regarding the Messiah’s return. Countless believers today still get wrapped up in debates and long essays on the topic. Some even push their agendas regarding Christ’s “imminent” return over the cliff of public embarrassment since they’ve all been wrong.
A much better use of time and influence, in my view, is to just keep learning and loving and testifying and serving and forgiving until we draw our last breath.
That way, we won’t have to worry about being found faithful whenever Christ appears.
Listen, we’re not called to know when He’s going to return. Instead, we’re called to be working for a harvest of disciples until He returns or until we depart this life.
Will we grow weary some days? Of course. We’re jars of clay prone to weakness.
But we’re also vessels that can receive power and purpose from on high.
Pray that God lift high your physical and spiritual eyelids.
There’s work to do.
And I’ll do the same.
As always, I love you
Martin
