Wake up and Get Dressed

Paul here underlines Jesus’ teaching on the Old Testament law. Jesus did not negate the old law, he fulfilled it. He helps us understand it.

For Jesus, it was about pathways. For instance, he said, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28). Implicit here is the path: lust in your heart, imagine, fantasize, flirt, act on the impulse… Jesus says, “Stay off the path.” When we lust, we are on the same path as one who is acting on the impulse. Granted they are farther ahead on the path, but it is the same path. Jesus described murder as a stage on the path and it starts way back here with anger and insult (Matthew 5:21-22). Get off and stay off the path. “Wake up!”

There is another path we can take: it’s the path towards Jesus and with Jesus. When Paul says, “Wake up!” he is reminding us to allow Jesus, the light of the world, to help us see what path we are on. The life path is way too short for any of us to waste another moment on the path without Jesus (the murder path, the adultery path, the hate path, the drunken path).

How do we wake up? The church family can help, but it requires that you have the courage to ask a trusted friend in your church family, “What about the path I am now taking—what do you see? Do you see Jesus with me? In me?” Sometimes we need someone to shake us awake!

Sometimes we can simply hear God’s voice say to us, “Wake up, child—time to walk with ME.”

Respond in Prayer

Father, I hear you calling me to wake up. It’s easy sometimes to ignore your voice and stay asleep. I can fool myself to believe that here in the dark you don’t really see me and know about some bad choices I am making. No more kidding myself or ignoring you. I want to be fully awake and alive in you. I step into this day with you! For Jesus' sake, Amen.

Cliff Fletcher