It’s been a tiring week. Filling in for the Breakfast Show radio host meant that I set my alarm for 4:40 each morning, ensuring that I’d be at the radio studios by 5:30. I was looking forward to waking up later on Saturday, but at 4:40 I heard the buzz of an alarm. Annoyed at what I thought was my husband’s alarm, I begged him to turn it off and then realized it was my own alarm blaring its unwelcome wake-up call. I’d forgotten to turn off the alarm the night before and now I lay wide awake, frustrated with myself and embarrassed that I’d blamed my husband for the rude awakening.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m sitting in church, I occasionally catch myself thinking how great the message is for someone else. Instead, it’s vital that I choose to apply each sermon or Bible reading to my own life. The apostle Peter calls on every believer to think clearly, exercise self-control, and “live as God’s obedient children” (1 Peter 1:13-14). He reminds us not to slip back into our old, selfish ways of living and to “be holy in everything [we] do, just as God who chose [us] is holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16).
It’s important that we take personal responsibility for the way we live because one day we’ll be rewarded or judged for everything we do (1 Peter 1:17). God paid a great price to save us from our empty lives—and not with gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Jesus who was raised from the dead (1 Peter 1:18-21). Through Christ we can trust God as we place our faith and hope in Him because He has cleansed us from our sin. As God helps us to grow in obedience, we’re able to love sincerely and steer clear of evil behavior (1 Peter 1:22–2:1).
Let’s hear God’s wake-up call and follow Him and His ways today!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 10:1-23
More:
Read Philippians 2:12-16 (NIV) and be encouraged to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it’s God who works in you for His good purpose.
Next:
Next time you hear a great sermon or have your morning devotions with God, ask Him what He wants to say to you—not your spouse or your mother-in-law or anyone else. What does it mean for you to take responisibility for your choices?
Gary Shultz on October 23, 2015 at 6:29 am
It is so much easier to watch another’s plate without regarding what we have placed on ours. I don’t think having that critical spirit is really fun, but it does misdirect what we should own, to someone else. I’m glad God never falls for that trick, but we seem to be quite satisfied to shift attention. So, as you mention we need/must take personal responsibility for what we have on our plate. Better input = better output. Thanks
whs6886 on October 23, 2015 at 3:04 pm
great reply. It was right on the spot for me.
jim spillane on October 23, 2015 at 11:55 am
With the help of the Holy Spirit, let us always be mindful of perhaps the most difficult sin to see in ourselves, the sin of pride. Those who are secure in the knowledge of their own salvation might be the ones who are most at risk. As Ruth stated, “I often catch myself thinking how great the message is for someone else.” And as Gary stated, “we seem to be quite satisfied to shift attention.”
Ruth O'reilly-smith on October 23, 2015 at 2:53 pm
Hi Gary and Jim. I’m reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:3-5 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye”.
Roxanne Robbins on October 23, 2015 at 4:27 pm
…but it’s so much easier to blame others than take self responsibility!
Winn Collier on October 28, 2015 at 5:37 pm
I’ve noticed recently how often the Scripture says ‘wake up’ or ‘live awake.’