Stay Awake
Don’t set the affections of your heart on this world or in loving the things of the world. The love of the Father and the love of the world are incompatible. For all that the world can offer us—the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance —none of these things come from the Father but from the world. —1 John 2:15-16 (TPT)
The book of Judges gives us the account of Samson. He fell in love with a woman named Delilah. (Judges 16:4 NLT) Her intention was to bring Samson down. After Delilah constantly nagged him, Samson told her the secret of his strength. (Judges 16:16-17) In Judges 16:19-20, Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and had his hair shaved. In this way she began to bring him down, and his strength left him. When he woke up, Samson thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.
Today, our heavenly Father has promised to never leave us or forsake us, but often times, we choose to do our own thing and end up taking detours and going astray. Don’t be seduced and lulled to sleep by the things of this world. Instead, let us keep the affections of our heart set on Immanuel, “God with Us.”
“This world and its desires are in the process of passing away, but those who love to do the will of God live forever.” —1 John 2:17 (TPT)