Sunburn!

…let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (NIV)

Props: red blush

 Brush the red brush on the person teaching the lesson before he/she walks on stage.  For an even funnier effect, brush around a pair of sunglasses, leaving a “raccoon” look. 

As you can see, I’ve spent a lot of time in the sun.  It started out as just a nice day at the beach over spring break.  Everyone was swimming and building sand castles and eating hot dogs.  We were having a blast.  I decided to lie out on my towel for a few minutes.  My mom told me to wear sunscreen, and I listened.  I put on sunscreen when we arrived early in the morning.  After lunch, I lay out on my towel.  The sun was so warm and cozy.  The breeze was blowing, the waves were washing ashore and the next thing I knew, I was waking up. 

A whole hour had passed!  I thought everything was A-okay.  I guess I thought the sunscreen would last forever.  Then I went inside.  I looked like a tomato.  And it hurts, too.  (Have a helper come by and pat you on the back).  Ouch!  That’s not the worst of it.  When my poor, crispy skin starts peeling, I’m going to look like a lizard.

Anyway, all of this reminds me of our lesson today.  The devil wants to get you comfortable in your Christian life so that you’ll fall asleep in your spirit.  He wants to make you think you can just relax and stop reading your Bible, praying and obeying Him, just like I thought I could fall asleep in the sun without putting on more sunscreen.  I thought the little bit I used would work forever! 

You have to stay in prayer and in the Word and you have to keep obeying God in order to stay protected from the traps of the enemy.  Otherwise, he’ll sneak in and you’ll get hurt!    

Wake up and escape the traps of the enemy!  You snooze, you lose…so WAKE UP!