“She weeps bitterly in the night, her tears are on her cheeks. There is no one to comfort her. The Lord has afflicted her because of her multitude of sins.” (Lamentations 1:2 & 5 paraphrased)
“But our weeping is because of this person or that situation!!”
We don’t ever gossip. Or lie. We never ever yell at our children or spouse...
You see all of these things are of our sinful nature. They sure don’t come from God. “For from within, out of a man’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man unclean.” (Mark 7:21-23)
Our culture has watered down Christianity so much that we can be lulled to sleep by it. There is this notion that because we’re not murderers that we are good Christians. Today’s American Christianity accepts E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!! “… those “extreme” things, are for the charismatic Christians or the missionaries…
Matthew 12:35 “ The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” We are walking through our faith lethargically on the edge of sleep. Then we are wondering why our world gets turned upside down when the first storm comes. This is not how God tells us to live! God says, “above ALL else, GUARD YOUR HEART, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and godliness.” (2 Peter 1:3)
What is a godly life? (What do these things look like in your daily life?)
o Love the lord with all your heart, soul & mind (Matthew 22:38-40)
o Seek 1st the kingdom and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33)
o Obey 
“Grace did not save Noah, obedience did.”
“Grace did not save Noah, obedience did.”
Titus 3:1-2 “Remind the people to be subject to the rules and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”
o Love others “and love others as yourself”
o Love your enemies (Proverbs 25:22)
o Do everything for God (Colossians 3:23)
o Stop being a good modern American Christian & let God consume your life!
Ephesians 5 paints us a picture of what this looks: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a man is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”
We can all get caught up in the do-do’s of life. Paul talks about fighting our sinful nature in Romans 7, but we must wake up and wage war against our flesh!
“Let us search out and examine our ways” (lamentations 3:40) If we can’t look in the mirror of our hearts and see this godly life, if what we see is our bitter weeping and continuous tears, there’s only one thing to do. We must “turn back to the Lord. Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven.” (lamentations 3:40-41)
The good news is that “through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because his compassions do not fail. They are new every morning; Great is his faithfulness!” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” (Lamentations 3:24-25)
Luke 9:28-32 “…Jesus took Peter, John and James with him and went onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightening. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. … Peter and his companions were sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory…”
"when they became fully awake, they saw his glory"
It’s time to wake up! Now awaken & move!!
