the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Ephesians 5:14. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:6.
There is nothing which the Christian, even the most zealous, should fear more than to fall asleep. The higher the flame of love ascends, the quicker it becomes extinguished if one does not place new fuel upon it. The sun does not shine for him who is asleep. He who does not awake, nor shake off his drowsiness, nor open his eyes, will not be enlightened by Christ, who is the light. Watchfulness and soberness must be renewed daily, otherwise we shall become like the others in this world who are dead, who have never been awakened from their sleep and misery; we shall receive the same reward as they will receive when they are found sleeping by Him who cometh "like a thief in the night. " Paul wrote the above words to Christians in Ephesus and Thessalonica: they were awaked and pardoned, and he gave them much praise
But even in the best congregation, and among the most zealous, some are always found who have a great inclination to sleep, who ever need to be awakened lest they slumber into death. Many dream so vividly in their sleep that they consider themselves awake and alive. They become angry when one would awaken them. They lie in deepest slumber; only God can awaken them by loud calls or hard blows. May God awaken us all, whether our slumber be light or heavy! For the slumbering virgins sleep away the wedding feast. They come too late after the door is closed.
Watch! ’tis your Lord’s command;
And while we speak, He’s near.
Mark the first signal of His hand.
And ready all appear.
O happy servant he.
In such a posture found!
He shall His Lord with rapture see,
And be with honor crowned.
