WAKING THE SLEEPING GIANT

If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 (NASV)

What determines how you live and use life Monday through Saturday? What values determine what you do, what principles determine who you are, what motives govern your decisions? Do you just “follow the routine” and “go through the motions” of the day—the Monday routine, the Thursday routine, the Saturday routine? Do you have to know what day it is to know what you are supposed to do? Or, is your life just a constant blur—a continual running and trying to catch up with what you should do next?

At times we are so trapped by our “right now” schedules, we forget who we are. We have a hat rack for job hats, school hats, extracurricular hats, fun hats, and social hats. We live in the hope of having a hat for the occasion. Our lives can be a reaction to the momentary situation instead of deliberately being “who I am.”

If the situation determines who we are and what we do, likely several things determine our identity and actions—society, expedience, the need at the moment, the opportunity of the moment, the desire of the moment, the “over-powering” influence of the moment, the chance to escape, etc.

If that is your way to seek to survive, what is your Sunday routine? Is Sunday a “situation” that demands that you “blow a kiss” in the direction of religious responsibility so you can say, “We are not complete pagans!”? Is Sunday your attempt to let the sleeping giant (God) sleep, so you can tiptoe around Him and not attract His attention?

There are basic things the giant (God) wants for you, and He is not asleep! He wishes to teach you who you are and how to live so you can experience life’s fullness. Make Sunday a “thank-you” time spent with your spiritual family to count blessings—the end of a week, well spent because you continue to be a “you” that you—and others—respect.

David Chadwell

West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Bulletin Article, 22 November 2009

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