It’s hot and humid and the days are long. The humidity hanging over the valley below our house seems perpetually replenished by the steam rising from the Chattahoochee River. The garden droops and all creatures great and small seem to wilt with the effort of movement. It is that time of year we in America call the “dog days of summer”.
Defined by factmonster.com as follows:
Dog Days is the name for the most sultry period of summer, from about July 3 to Aug. 11. Named in early times by observers in countries bordering the Mediterranean, the period was reckoned as extending from 20 days before to 20 days after the conjunction of Sirius (the dog star) and the sun.
The problem is that in the “dog days” it takes effort to get anything accomplished other than sitting in the shade or the air con with a tall glass of sweet tea.
I thought of that when I read the first line of My Utmost for His Highest devotional today. “We are all capable of being spiritual sluggards”.
Sometimes it seems like it is all just too much effort. We don’t want to enter the spiritual struggle for souls; we really just want to go nap in the hammock. Especially if we have during times of great enthusiasm entered the fray and gotten knocked around a bit; we may be even more reluctant. I think that is why Paul wrote this admonition to the Galatians,
Galatians 6:9-10 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
In the middle of the dog days of summer in can make one weary to have to keep watering the garden and pulling the weeds, but if you want a harvest, it must be done. It is essential spiritually as well. We need to keep on doing good to those we want to know God. Then as if he truly understood life in the church he adds, “Especially to those of the household of faith”. Those who we think should know better who seem to be along for the ride spiritually. Yep, especially to them we should do good.
Not only that, but in Hebrews the writer takes it a step further. Hebrews 10:24-25 “and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.”
Not only should we stir ourselves up to keep on doing the good, but we should provoke others until they do too. It is so easy to get lulled to sleep and begin floating along with the world around us. Instead, the Scripture says, get together and keep the momentum of spiritual growth alive. Go ahead and stir things up! As Proverbs 27:17 states, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” That implies a noisy operation with sparks flying.
If you or your church are experiencing the spiritual doldrums, let me make some suggestions:
Start an in-depth Bible study.
Begin a prayer meeting.
Reach out to the poor, or marginalized people groups in your community.
Then MEMORIZE Ephesians 6:10-20, because you are going to need it! When you begin to take God’s word seriously, prayer and outreach, you had better be prepared for things to get interesting. The enemy is never pleased when we wake up and begin to step into his territory. Various members of the body of believers will begin to come under attack, but that is not the time to go curl up and hide. It is the time to begin to stand up on the authority of God and His word.
Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
He has all we would ever need, and He is with us!
So let’s shake off the dog days, drag ourselves from the doldrums’, and quit accepting defeat by opting for the hammock instead of the conflict! Here is my prayer myself and all of you today:
Colossians 1:9 “…we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.