October 17th-19th Reflection

Video
http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=4aa61ca1e2c5da9a284f

Readings
Jeremiah 30:1-34:22
Jeremiah 33:3 - Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
1 Timothy 2:1-4:16
1 Timothy 2:1 - First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone...
Psalms 87:1-89:13
Psalm 88:1-2 - O LORD, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence, let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry.
Proverbs 25:18-24

Reflection
Awake from your sleep! Get up, Christians, get up! It's time to turn to God and repent! Some things sound so familiar. A cry of John the Baptist in the wilderness. Wake up! Repent! Turn and see the One who is with you! For centuries we have been blind to the presence of God in our lives. Wake up from sleep! Look around! God has been here by our side in the good and in the bad times both. God became flesh in Jesus and knows what it is like to be human. He knows the joy and sorrow, the happiness and the pain, He knows the good and the bad and He knows about sin. Jesus took on the pain of our sin and laid it out on that cross of crucifixion in blood and death. But...but...on the third day He woke up! He stood up to the sin and death and got up! He rose and left the tomb of our sin and death and damnation.

So, awake from your sleep! See what He has done. Fall to your knees and repent. Pray to God for your soul. Beg for forgiveness. Jesus has taken our sin and put it to death. We are free from the sin that binds us. Even at this time we are both sinner and saint. We live in sin, yet can live free from sin. Free from sin, because Jesus has defeated that sin. So wake up! Arise from that sleep! The Church of Christ is free from the sins of this world to boldly step out in love to serve one another. To serve one another in the love that Christ has shown to us. A Love that awakes from sin, death and the devil to a glorious new light and a new day that we may courageously go out and serve those lost in this sinful world and point all to the Light. Wake up! Sleep is over! Repent and go!

Prayer
Lord, I'm awake! Send me boldly into this world, full of courage and strength, forgiven and renewed. ---Amen