Thought for November 15, 2024

•  1492: Columbus notes first recorded reference to tobacco
• 1533: Pizarro captures the Incan capital, Cusco
• 1777: Continental Congress approves the Articles of Confederation
• 1791: Georgetown University opens as first Catholic university in US
• 1864: Sherman leaves Atlanta on the March to the Sea
• 1904: King Gillette patents the Gillette Razor Blade
• 1932: "A Night at the Opera" with the Marx Brothers is released
• 1939: FDR lays cornerstone of Jefferson Memorial
• 1956: Elvis has his acting debut in "Love Me Tender"
• 1959: Clutter Family murdered in Kansas--Truman Capote writes "In Cold Blood"
• 1963: Valium created
• 1980: "Big Thunder Mountain Railroad" opens at Disney World
• Born: William Pitt the Elder, Georgia O'Keeffe, Erwin Rommel, Lorena Ochoa, Curtis LeMay, Judge Joseph Wapner, Ed Asner, Petula Clark, 
• Died: Johannes Kepler, Lionel Barrymore, Margaret Mead, Oswald Chambers, Stokely Carmichael, Adrian Rogers, Roy Clark, 

Thought:

Looking at Romans 13:11-14 this morning. Look at what Paul says. Wake up!. [13:11] Do I need a spiritual wake-up call? A spiritual alarm clock? Have I gotten comfortable and fallen asleep in my spirit? In football, we often refer to a loss or near-loss as a wake-up call. Vanderbilt's defeat of Alabama for example. When I think of a wake-up call, two events come to mind. 

In 1973, I was driving from Wichita Falls to Lubbock Texas to try a case. We had a young son and I had been working hard as a Judge Advocate. It was late at night and the road was empty and desolate. Apparently I fell asleep and awoke when I ran into the median. I reacted by slamming on the brakes and the car spun several times in the gravel. I hit nothing. But I was sure wide awake for the rest of the drive. The other was on my birthday in 1974. Still in the Air Force, my co-workers had a little party, I hung around and had drinks with them and finally went home about 7:00 p.m. As I pulled in the drive, I saw Jan and Mark [age 3] sitting on the porch all dressed up to take me to dinner. Rather than a nice dinner she had planned, we ate at Dairy Queen in the car. That was a wake-up call for me and I rededicated my life to Christ the following Sunday. 

Reading this verse again today makes me ask myself, have I fallen asleep. Do I need to wake up and get busy. Interesting that verse 13 lists those things that guys often go to sleep about--carousing, drunkenness,  sensuality and sexual sins. When we let our ears dull and our eyes compromise, we find our selves sleepwalking through life, open to all the fleshly desires and temptations. 

Verse 14 tells me what I need  to do daily. Put on Jesus. But look at how Paul says this--put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Make Him Lord of life. When He sits on the throne of my life, I am wide awake. Today, I need to remember to put on Jesus as Lord. Then my life will evidence the will of the Father.

Blessings

Larry