Jude 1:20–23

I really feel sorry for Eutychus. It was bad enough for the fella to fall asleep in church while Paul was preaching ... he even fell out the window to his death three stories below! But then, of all things, Dr. Luke included the incident for all the world to read down through the centuries. Think of that! The only time Eutychus got his name in Scripture was when he died while sleeping in church:

On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in theLord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below (Acts 20:7–9).

Makes you glad the Bible is no longer being written, doesn’t it?

Could it be that you’re experiencing a drowsy faith? If so, the Bible offers the perfect pick-me-up!

You, dear friends, must build [or wake!] each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe [awake!]in God’s love. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives (Jude 1:20–23).

Nothing stirs your sleepy faith like a little rescue mission—being a part of God’s great plan to reach people who are approaching eternity condemned to a fiery fate. So ... wake up and join the action. You might get a little closer to the flames. But you won’t fall asleep during this ride.

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Devotional content taken from Good Morning, Lord ... Can We Talk? by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright ©2018. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries. All rights reserved.