Alert Coffee

By John Grant
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“Be on guard! Be alert ! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back — whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!'”  Mark 13:33-37

When the alarm went off, I wanted to throw it across the room, but did not have that option, as I had an appointment and more than six hundred miles to drive. Staying up too late the night before was no excuse. As my bride says, “You can’t hoot with the owls and then soar with the eagles.� I quickly splashed some water on my face, dressed, loaded the last baggage in the car and headed down the road.

It was long before dawn and as I drove, it seemed to be getting darker rather than lighter. I was struggling to stay awake, so pulled into a convenient convenience store for a cup of java. I was amazed… there were more than ten selections to choose from….. various flavors and added ingredients.

But, one pot caught my eye. It did not have a fancy name like the others. It was simply labeled ALERT! Alas, I had found my solution, so I purchased a jumbo cup and headed southward. Within thirty minutes, I was wired and the yawns were a thing of the in the rear view mirror. Wow, was I wired!

I thought about how the Bible tells us to stay on alert and to be on guard. Jesus said  ( Mark 13:9) “You must be on your guard.� He knew the risks, temptations and dangers of the world around us.

I enjoy watching wildlife in the woods. Whatever they are doing, they are always on the alert for dangerous predators and they are always looking for a place of security to run to. There are predators in our world…..so many snares and temptations in our world. It is easy to get caught up.

The best way for us to be on the alert is to be grounded in God’s Word and to be ready to seek his security when we run from danger and temptation. As Jesus told us, we must always be on guard and alert to the ways of the world.
(a thought on life from John Grant )

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughtsaboutgod.com/blog/2008/09/19/jg_alert-coffee/

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John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney. He is an active writer and frequent speaker.  He can be reached by e-mail at John.Grant@johngrant.net

 

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