Wake Up!

Daily Reading:  Matthew 1 

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife. (Matthew 1.24) 

Devotional Thought: Much of Matthew 1 is taken up with the lineage of Christ.  It may look like just a list of names, but I would encourage you to give it your attention.  Since there are some “interesting” characters in the ancestry of Jesus (and he’s not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, Hebrews 2:11), we should be encouraged to believe that he accepts us as part of his family!  But, the thought that impressed me is found in verse 24: “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.” 

In his sleep, Joseph had seen a vision.  The angel of God had told him to go ahead and marry Mary.  Yet, Joseph couldn’t follow through on that vision until he woke up.  Neither can we. 

Often in our times of worship we experience the presence of God.  We sense that God is speaking to us, but we go away without being changed.  It’s because we are asleep.  There are many visions in the church today that are not being obeyed because we are asleep.  It’s time for us to wake up!

• Wake up to the move of the Holy Spirit!

• Wake up to the will of God – even your sanctification!

• Wake up to full surrender and obedience!

• Wake up to God calling you to the harvest!

• Wake up to the call for confident faith and bold action!

I pray that we would all be stirred from our drowsiness and respond as did Joseph – doing what the Lord commands! 

Prayer: Lord, like Joseph, I am at times hard-headed and narrow-minded.  At times I am asleep.  Help me to wake up and do what you command me.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 83:1-8

1 O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!

2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads.

3 They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones.

4 They say, "Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!"

5 For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant--

6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,

7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

8 Asshur also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah