Aroused from Sleep

Wakefulness is often exhorted in Scripture. Although believers have been awakened from the slumber of spiritual death, they still have remaining sin that often lulls them into a carnal drowsiness. Peter illustrates this quite literally. He slept on the Mount of Transfiguration. Warned of his potential failure due to fleshly self-confidence, Jesus warned him in the Garden of Gethsemane to "watch and pray" lest he enter temptation. Again, Peter failed, but the Lord graciously prayed for him, pursued him, and restored him. His final exhortation to Peter was "follow me" (John 21:19). There are three areas we are charged to vigilance: prayer, righteousness, and Christ's return. Let us not be sleeping at the wrong time.