The other day, I was driving home from work and when I came over one hill, I noticed a pile of fur laying in the middle of the road and assumed it to be a dead groundhog. Generally, as a rule, I try to avoid hitting things in the road as long as it is safe to do so. This applies to both living and dead things. First of all, I don't like to kill things, and second of all, even if it's already dead, I don't really want to hit it with my car. If I can't swerve around it because it's in the middle of the lane, I'll usually straddle it. Well, since I was heading into a turn, I straddled the animal with my car. At the last second, the “dead” groundhog lifted it's head and this extremely terrified little groundhog face was looking at me. Thump. I looked in the rearview mirror and it was sitting up, looking around, all stunned. Then he ran away. I guess it was his lucky day and he only got a bump on the head – a very rude awakening! Now, the point of my lesson is not to discuss whether or not we should hit things in the road or whether or not I should have swerved. Rather, my point is to discuss one very bad decision that the little critter made that day. In fact, it might very well have been the worst idea that the groundhog had all day. It was wandering through the field and felt a little sleepy. So, it decided for some reason that it would be a good idea to wander out into the middle of the road and take a nap. It learned a lesson and now spends much of its time hunkered down in a hole, wincing at every strange noise ;) In short, the lesson learned is that there are places that are good for resting and places that are not. There are times for rest and times for alertness.
Matthew 26:40-41
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
1 Thessalonians 5:5-11
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Do
Rest in God; set aside worldly pursuits; trust in God's plan; be refreshed and replenished in a time of prayer and Bible reading/study; strive for the things of God using His strength instead of striving in your own ways in such a futile effort...
Don't
Let your guard down around temptation; slack off in your higher calling; ignore God's people; doze off in church, prayer time, or other times when you need to listen for God's voice; put your head down in battle; be lackadaisical...
