"Wake Up"

"So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not." Jonah 1:6

Most of us remember the story of Jonah from our childhood. Before Jonah was swallowed up by a big fish there was a terrible storm that threatened to destroy the ship and drown all aboard. The sailors did all they knew to do- they threw cargo overboard to lighten the load and they all called up their gods to save them. All, that is, except Jonah. Jonah was in the bottom of the boat asleep unaware of the plight that was going on around him.

The captain of the ship went to Jonah and woke him up. He asked him a very honest and sobering question, "How can you sleep at a time like this? Get up and pray to your God! Maybe he will have pity on us and keep us from drowning." (CEV) This is a question and plea that is being sounded to the church today- "How can you sleep at a time like this?"

I feel like the church, as a whole, is "asleep" and "unaware" of what is going on around us. The definition of sleep also means to be inactive, numb, indifferent. Far too often we are caught up in our own little world that we don't even notice that those around us are in trouble. We don't notice, or care, that they need help, they need an answer and they need peace.

Jonah had these sailor's answer. He knew what the problem and the solution was. When he finally woke up and told them the truth, these men turned to Jonah's God and peace came into their lives.

Now, I know that the storm became calm when they threw Jonah overboard, I am not saying that is the solution. What I am trying to say is that when we "wake up" and get involved in reaching those around us who are hurting, who are confused, who are in trouble, who are facing life threatening situations, and when we reach out to them with the truth of God's word, their lives can turn around and instead of death they can find life.

Have a great day. Are you asleep in the boat while the rest of humanity is trying to save themselves? Wake up, you have their solution.

For further reading:
Jonah 1
Matthew 25:35-45
Luke 10:33-35