The
online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
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encouragement and exhortation.
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Tuesday,
February 28, 2023
We
had six blue
birds at our
feeding
station in the
front yard two
days ago until
our dogs
frightened
them away.
They must have
returned to
our neighbor's
house
since it's
their favorite
feeding spot.
Perhaps this
is a photo of
one of them
taken by our
neighbor Doug.
"Wake
Up, Sleeper!"
Message
summary: Today
as men and
women who
strive to
understand the
present times
let us heed
the clear
Scriptural
call to be
alert and
sober. Let’s
not snooze
away precious
minutes, but
let us wake up
completely and
move into
action!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise” (Ephesians 5:13-15). “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet” (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8).
The
"snooze alarm"
allows a few
extra moments
of “snoozing”
after the
initial alarm
rings on
modern alarm
clocks. Now
even smart
phones have
this feature.
I don’t know
when it was
first invented
but I still
remember when
it was a new
feature to
Brooksyne and
me. At the
time it seemed
like such a
great idea for
an alarm
clock.
In the early days of our marriage we seriously considered features on small items like alarm clocks before purchasing. I suppose having a snooze alarm at that time cost a bit more and we wanted to make sure it was worth it. We bought one with a snooze feature and couldn’t wait to get home and check it out!
Had someone finally found the answer to this need or more accurately, desire, we and millions of others have for just a “few more minutes of sleep” each morning? Ours even had a repeat feature and it appeared to be unlimited. I don’t know what our personal record is for the repeat use of this feature but it’s sure more than a couple of times! It seems we could always use a “just few more minutes of sleep”.
Brooksyne
uses her phone
alarm and the
“snooze alarm”
on extra early
mornings. I
notice the
snooze on the
iPhone is set
with a default
interval of 9
minutes which
I am sure has
a reason.
Actually for us the snooze alarm is kind of a stumbling block to actually get ourselves going in the morning. We’ve learned that regardless of whether or not we snooze a bit longer we must still go through those first couple of drowsy-feeling minutes after waking up as well as getting our joints loosened up as we have reached the age of stiff and arthritic joints. Nine more minutes of sleep doesn't help one iota with that inevitable afflictions of age!
Is there a spiritual lesson here? We think so! In fact we use the term “wake up” in various non literal ways. If someone is making bad choices and headed down the wrong path we say "They need to wake up". We also use the term for groups of people such as "America needs to wake up".
“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise” (Ephesians 5:13-15). “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet” (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8).
The
"snooze alarm"
allows a few
extra moments
of “snoozing”
after the
initial alarm
rings on
modern alarm
clocks. Now
even smart
phones have
this feature.
I don’t know
when it was
first invented
but I still
remember when
it was a new
feature to
Brooksyne and
me. At the
time it seemed
like such a
great idea for
an alarm
clock.In the early days of our marriage we seriously considered features on small items like alarm clocks before purchasing. I suppose having a snooze alarm at that time cost a bit more and we wanted to make sure it was worth it. We bought one with a snooze feature and couldn’t wait to get home and check it out!
Had someone finally found the answer to this need or more accurately, desire, we and millions of others have for just a “few more minutes of sleep” each morning? Ours even had a repeat feature and it appeared to be unlimited. I don’t know what our personal record is for the repeat use of this feature but it’s sure more than a couple of times! It seems we could always use a “just few more minutes of sleep”.
Brooksyne
uses her phone
alarm and the
“snooze alarm”
on extra early
mornings. I
notice the
snooze on the
iPhone is set
with a default
interval of 9
minutes which
I am sure has
a reason.Actually for us the snooze alarm is kind of a stumbling block to actually get ourselves going in the morning. We’ve learned that regardless of whether or not we snooze a bit longer we must still go through those first couple of drowsy-feeling minutes after waking up as well as getting our joints loosened up as we have reached the age of stiff and arthritic joints. Nine more minutes of sleep doesn't help one iota with that inevitable afflictions of age!
Is there a spiritual lesson here? We think so! In fact we use the term “wake up” in various non literal ways. If someone is making bad choices and headed down the wrong path we say "They need to wake up". We also use the term for groups of people such as "America needs to wake up".
Today's
first text has
these words, "Wake
up, sleeper".
Although not
certain, Paul
may have been
alluding to
Isaiah 60:1, "Arise,
shine; for
your light has
come, and the
glory of the
LORD has risen
upon you."
Our
second text
refers to a
much more
important type
of sleep from
which we need
to "wake
up". It
begins with
the phrase, “So
then, let us
not be like
others, who
are asleep,
but let us
be awake
and sober.”
A commentary
points out
that the
meaning in
this passage
concerning
“asleep” is
the sense that
one becomes
secure and
unconcerned in
sin as well as
indolent and
careless in
the
performance of
the call on
their life and
the work God
has prepared
for them to
accomplish.Bible teacher D. Edmond Hiebert writes that awake and sober:
"denote
a condition
free from
every form of
mental and
spiritual loss
of
self-control;
it is an
attitude of
self-discipline
that avoids
the extremes
of the
‘reckless
irresponsibility
of
self-indulgence
on the one
hand, and of
religious
ecstasy on the
other.’ It
inculcates a
calm, steady
state of mind
that evaluates
things
correctly, so
that it is not
thrown off
balance by new
and
fascinating
ideas. Such
'level
headedness' is
a constant
Christian
need." (My, is
that the truth
today!)
The Precept online Bible commentary states concerning this spiritual sobriety:
“Take
things
seriously,
being aware of
their real
importance and
be ever
mindful of
their
consequences
in time and in
eternity. The
sober saint
approaches
life, not as a
jest, but as a
serious matter
for which he
is answerable
to God. Let us
not become
intoxicated by
Satan’s three
vintage wines
– the lusts of
the flesh, the
lust of the
eyes, or the
boastful pride
of life" (see
1 John
2:15,16).
Today as men and women who strive to understand the present times let us heed the clear Scriptural call to be alert and sober. Let’s not snooze away precious minutes, but let us wake up completely and move into action!
Be
encouraged
today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
help us to be
people who
join the ranks
of those who
are not asleep
or unmindful
of that which
You have for
us to do. We
want to be
awake, sober
and vigilant
in carrying
out the task
You set before
us including
that of being
godly
messengers who
faithfully
teach and live
by the whole
counsel of
Your Holy
Word. We seek
to honor and
glorify Jesus
Christ in all
that we do so
keep us
awake,
self-controlled,
alert, and
ready. In the
name of Jesus
we pray. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Awake
My Soul"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Brooke
Ligertwood
There are
several songs
by this
musician we
enjoy and she
is having a
concert we are
considering
going to next
month here in
Lancaster.
Doug
got a great
shot of this
Blue Jay with
the thick,
black stout
bill, and
bright cobalt
colored
feathers with
white
underparts.
They're
beautiful to
admire but not
so nice when
feeding them -
they get a bit
hoardish and
aggressive to
the smaller
birds.
And
here's Doug
snapped
Brooksyne's
favorite bird
- the red
cardinal. She
recognizes
their trill
from a great
distance and
watches till
she sees him
come within
view. One
thing's for
sure the
cardinal
cannot easily
hide in the
branches due
to it's bright
red coat.
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Wordpress
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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