Dissipation

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Dissipation

We awoke  in the middle of the night  to a woman’s moaning cries of,  ‘No, no!”  and the authoritative sounds  of men’s voices.     Then there were the quick steps  of a man walking  through our cul-de-sac,  examining the area.     After that came the sharp commands of,  “On the ground  –  hands behind your back  –  hands behind your back  —  spread your feet  –  head down  –  head down!”

It was dissipation caught.     The police were gathering up people caught  in “whatever”  —  whatever that is foolish  and of no value.     These were people  who were wasting their lives  and energies  (dissipating)  on the foolishness  that will eventually destroy them  eternally.     Whatever they were up to  was a worthless  and evil endeavor.     It would do them  no good.     It wouldn’t do  anyone else any good  either.

Jesus warns us in Luke 21:34-35,  “Be on guard,  that your hearts  may not be weighted down  with dissipation  and drunkenness  and the worries of life,  and that day  [Judgment Day]  come on you suddenly  like a trap;  for it will come  upon all those  who dwell  on the face  of all the earth.”

In the previous verses  Jesus had been telling  about the end days.     Jesus described the end days  as times of betrayal,  hatred,  distress,  wars,  perplexity  and fears.     In love,  Jesus warns His own  that this is not a time  for their hearts  to be weighted down  with dissipation,  drunkenness  or worries of life.

Jesus teaches His own  to (verse 36),  “Keep on the alert  at all times,  praying  in order that you may have strength  to escape all these things  that are about  to take place,  and to stand  before the Son  of Man.”

We are  to be on the alert.     Just what are the  “dissipation,  drunkenness  and worries of life”  in our day  that we need to be  on the alert for?     Dissipation and drunkenness  can include  drugs,  hatred,  greed,  lying,  slander,  cheating,  partying,  porn,  vindictiveness,  adultery,  hatred  and crimes resulting  from any of these.

Then there are the worries of life  that weigh down  our hearts.     Those can wipe out  most all of us out,  if not all.     We worry  about house payments,  food,  clothing,  loneliness,  sickness,  and jobs.     If we don’t worry about these,  we’re sure  to find something else  to worry about,  like family problems,  war,  government,  etc.

Jesus has a solution  for our  “dissipation,  drunkenness  and worries of life”.     Hopefully,  we’ve already discovered  that our own efforts  haven’t saved us.     Our own “powers”  are like a joke.

But, Jesus tells us  to keep praying,  so that we may have the strength  to escape  all these things.     Jesus wants us  to depend  on God  to save us.     Jesus wants us  to realize  that man is a creation  of God.     As created beings,  we are just as dependent  on God’s mercies  as any other part  of His creation.     We should not be like  the king of Tyre,  whom God had to warn  in Ezekiel 28:2,  “You are a man  and not God,  although you make your heart  like the heart  of God.”

Keep praying.     Prayer is worshipful dependence  on our heavenly Father.     It’s simple advice  that even many Christians forget  while struggling  with their problems.     We keep forgetting  that we don’t have the power  to do  what only God can do.

Jesus promises  that when we pray,  we will receive the strength  we need  to escape all these trials  that weigh our hearts down.     God knows  how all those dissipations  and worries  of life  crush the hearts  of their victims  into hopelessness.     That is why  He urges us  to pray  without ceasing.

If we proudly refuse  to pray  for the help  we obviously need,  we will end up lost  in hopelessness.     That’s why Jesus tells us  to “Be on guard”  regarding our hearts.    Our sinful natures  will always tend  to be proud enough  to try  and do things  our way,  without God’s help.

Matthew 11:28-30,  “Come to Me,  all who are weary  and heavy-laden,  and I will give you rest.     Take My yoke  upon you  and learn  from Me,  for I am gentle  and humble in heart,  and you will find rest  for your souls.     For My yoke  is easy  and My burden  is light.”

Instead of dissipating,  let us find our rest  in Christ, saying,  “Hallelujah!     LORD,  You are our strength.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

Pray for our country.

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect,   but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that  for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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