Do We Need to Wake Up Our Spiritual Life?

How many times will it take for people to hear, listen, and respond to the Lord’s calling? On the last call, Samuel finally responds, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” The first few times, I believe that he knew someone was calling him, but he was unsure of who it was. He just assumed that it was Eli. However, Eli guided him as to what he should do.

In Acts 24:25, Paul’s discussion with Felix turned out to be really close to home, so that Felix felt sentenced (convicted). Felix, similar to Herod Antipas (Mark 6:17-18), had taken another man's spouse. Paul’s words were intriguing until they zeroed in on “righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come.”

Many individuals will be happy to examine the Gospel with us as long as it does not come in contact with their personal lives. At the point when it does, some will oppose or leave. Be that as it may, this is what is really going on with the Gospel, God’s ability to change lives. The Gospel is not productive until it moves from doctrine and standards into a groundbreaking dynamic. If our witness causes somebody to oppose or run from us, we have made the Gospel intimate.

In Acts 26:28-29, Agrippa addressed the presentation that Paul gave with a snide comment. Paul did not respond to the rejection; however, he made an individual appeal to which he trusted every one of his audience members would react. Paul's reaction is a genuine model for us as we inform others regarding God's plan of salvation. An earnest individual appeal or declaration can show our sincere consideration, and can possibly shatter through solidified hearts.

God might make multiple calls, yet there clearly comes a day when an individual's heart is solidified. Proverbs 29:1 tells us, “Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed — without remedy.” Making a similar error over and over is an invitation to destruction. Ultimately, individuals will need to confront the outcome of declining to learn.

On the chance that their error is declining the invitations of God or dismissing his commands, the result will be particularly consequential. Eventually, God might need to dismiss them. We should ensure that we are not guilty of hardening our hearts.

Do we Christians have spiritual cobwebs? Do we need to dust and clean out our spiritual minds? Is our spiritual alarm clock buzzing? Does God need to nudge or shake us to get us out of our spiritual nap? Are we too tired from work, stress, staying up late at night with other things, or our home and yard work? Have we fallen asleep during our Christian walk? Have the mature Christians given assistance to the younger Christians? (Remember Samuel went to Eli for guidance).

God may have to work like the boot camp company commanders or drill instructors by turning on the lights, banging on the trash cans, yelling out loud, and blowing a whistle to wake people up. Do you hear God calling you, or have you heard God calling you?

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Chris Swanson answered the call into the ministry over 20 years ago. He has served as a Sunday School teacher, a youth director along with his wife, a music director, an associate pastor, and an interim pastor. He is a retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman with over 30 years of combined active and reserve service. You can contact Chris here, and check out his work here.