God Takes The Night Watch

It is early on Tuesday morning and sleep eludes me. I told myself when I went to bed I would sleep through the night. I awoke at 2:00 a.m. and tried to go back to sleep. I tossed and turned and eventually asked the Lord if He wanted me to get up. So here I am. A little tired but wide awake. Fully alert. Honed in on the things of God's Spirit.

What does God have on this mind this early Tuesday morning? I know His heart is grieved by the Supreme Court ruling yesterday in favor of abortion and pro choice advocates yet again. I know this action on top of many others to spurn the counsel of God is building up the perfect storm of God's wrath to be unleashed one day against the United States. We are a nation adrift. We have forsaken our morale compass. We have turned our backs on God will reap the consequences of such foolishness.

I know God is concerned for the many lost who daily walk the tight line between life and death, temporary and eternity, and Heaven and Hell. No matter how many perish it seems fewer listen to the gospel and respond in repentance. God longs for them to come to repentance. He convicts. He draws. He reveals truth. He burdens Christians to witness. He inspires messages to be heard and heeded.

I know God is concerned about the many abuses on planet earth from tyrant political leaders to unloving parents devastating helpless children. There will be a day of reckoning. There will be payday someday. Nobody gets away with it. All will give an account before God in the last day. And for the victims Psalm 46:1 (NASB) 
¹

 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

I know God is deeply troubled by the apathetic and stained state of His bride. The church is not always the picture of holiness. The modern church has gotten in bed with the world and committed spiritual adultery often without shame. While the church fixates on offering totals and numbers of people in the seats, have we forgotten the mandate for holiness? 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NASB) 
¹⁵  but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
¹⁶  because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." I am confident God is most interested in the affections of His church for Him.  Matthew 22:35-37 (NASB)
³⁵  One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him,
³⁶  "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
³⁷  And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' 

When churches are more interested in padding attendance statistics than producing disciples we have a problem. When entertainment replaces encounters with God we in the church are in trouble. When compromise is tolerated over commitment know God is not pleased. When more prayer takes place publicly from the stage on a Sunday morning than in the prayer closet in homes of members know we are in trouble. 

I am sure God has suffering people on His mind. Right now as I type this He is aware and available to those who can't sleep because of excruciating pain. He is there with those laboring for every breath as the end draws near. He is there for the grieving parents who lost a child tragically. He is there for those shattered and betrayed by a spouse. He is there for the person in the failing business with nowhere to turn. He is there for the parents of prodigal children. He is there for the ones that have lost their grip on hope and cannot find a reason to go on living. He is there for those going to the doctor later today for tests or to get the results of tests. GOD IS THERE. 

God is aware of faithful pastors, missionaries, youth pastors, worship pastors, and evangelists who are going through hard times. He sustains them week after week. He encourages them and strengthens them day by day. He makes them stout hearted when they face adversity. He helps them overcome disappointments that come with ministry. He produces perseverance in them when they do not see the fruit of their labors. He sustains them day after day, week after week, and year after year. 

God is also thinking of those facing huge mountains and praying in faith for those mountains to move. God is delighted by their faithful prayers and undaunted faith in the midst of impossible odds. Even now God is orchestrating miracles in response to those fervent petitions. 

These are just a few of the things God thinks about and is doing in the night watches. Sleep on people of God. Your God does not sleep. He does not get weary. He takes the night watch every night. Sleep on peacefully. God is up, in control, and working. Isaiah 40:27-31 (NASB) 

²⁷  Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God"?
²⁸  Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.
²⁹  He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.
³⁰  Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly,
³¹  Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.