Jesus Said to Stay Woke

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?”
-Jesus (Matthew 26:40)

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.
-Jesus (Mark 13:35)

Let’s keep thinking about the new year, since we’re only a week in. Many of you chose to stay awake until midnight last Tuesday to welcome in the new year. I don’t want to sound like a party pooper, but I think it’s been about (insert children’s ages) years since my wife and I stayed up. We party hard until about 9:00 or so and then it’s just not worth the effort. I’ll wish you happy new year in the morning. Stop judging me. 
But for those of you who make the effort, bravo! It got me thinking. 

A new year is a good time to invite God to help us stay awake. It’s so easy to fall alseep, to forget what matters, and to miss out on the beauty and joy of living in God’s kingdom. Interestingly, our society is experiencing an awakening of sorts. People are getting “woke” to the reality of racial bias in our country, and to the uncomfortably reality of sexism and the epidemic of sexual assault. People are noticing that we’re losing relationships because of our technology addiction. People are starting to notice that our consumption habits are not sustainable. It’s hopeful. Staying awake can be really good, especially when it’s Jesus that’s asking us to. 

As we consider staying awake this year, I can think of three areas where we don’t want to fall asleep: 

- God is at work all around us and we don’t want to miss it. 
My eyes over the past two years have opened up so much more. Everything around us an opportunity for growth. God is at work in all of it. Every conversation can make us more like Jesus. Every good and bad event can be shaping tools in our lives. Every sunset, every birdsong, every person, and every minute- all have something to reveal about God’s goodness if we slow down enough to take notice. But too often, we fall asleep to those moments and miss out.
Slow down enough to keep your eyes open, friends. 

- People are hurting and we want to be aware of it.
As mentioned above, our world is full of heartache. We forget that each person in front of us carries a story with them, full of hurt, hope, joy and pain. It’s easy to assume that what we see is the totality of a person. But God tells that so much is going on inside each person. They are in need of active love, just like you and I. Let’s become alert to compassion as we listen to each other’s stories. 
Slow down enough to keep your eyes open, friends.

- Habits that are damaging to us and others develop almost effortlessly. 
Most poor choices start long before the worst moment. Many bad habits (speaking critically, giving in to lust, using food or technology to fill a deeper need) form without us even being aware that they’re forming in us. We fall asleep at the wheel and forget that Jesus has given us a spirit of power and self-discipline that leads to a truly good life. Jesus hasn’t just set us free forever- he’s given us his Spirit to move toward loving practices in this life as well. Now is as good a time as EVER to get intentional and lean into prayer and community encouragement.  
Slow down enough to keep your eyes open, friends.

I want us to be awake this year to the many ways Jesus wants to shape us and use us. So if you stayed awake last week, let it be an ongoing image for you this year as Jesus gives you eyes to see and ears to hear. And if you were like me and fell asleep early on new year’s eve… well, we were just resting up...
It’s go time. 

Jesus, keep me awake and alert so that my eyes can see you and my ears can hear you. 

Delight in God's love for you this week- and love others well.
Peace,
Keith

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