“Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer…” (New International Version, Pro. 30:25)
One thing everyone – no matter age, color, or background – is unified on is having a summer break. Today, summer break has become about rest, refreshment, and recreation. The word “summer” comes from the Proto-Indo-European root variant: *sem – meaning “together or one”.
The world takes advantage of this time to get physically refreshed and spend time with family and friends, whereas disciples become spiritually weak and isolated from God’s family and people. “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” —Sam Keen. I’d like to change the above quote slightly; “Deep summer is when [worldliness] finds respectability [in the Kingdom of God]”
Truth be told, it does not have to be this way and it must not be this way for those of us who walk in the light. Therefore, I believe that if we put into practice the spiritual concepts below, we will have a summer surge in the Lord.
Proverbs 30:25 illustrates the great wisdom and work ethic of a small ant. They gather and store food in the summer that would last them through the winter. As disciples, we must use this time to gather and store up spiritual food that would help us prosper to the very end. Deuteronomy 8:3 tells us that we do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God! Summertime is the best opportunity for faith filling quiet times.
It’s time to take our personal Bible studies and prayer times to the next level!
“For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer” (Psalm 32:4)
When we sin, one can feel the weight of the Lord’s hand on them. Satan uses our sin to rob us from our faith, zeal, peace, and joy!
In order for God to lift us up, we must purify our hearts as we draw near to Him, according to James 4:8-10. The Bible teaches us that purification and healing comes through confession – and renunciation – to God and His servant that He put in their life.
If you haven’t repented and been baptized (immersed in water) in the name of Jesus and you feel the weight on your shoulders, then it’s time to study the Bible and get baptized next week for your sins to be forgiven. (Acts 2:38)
As disciples, let’s stay open about our sin with the brothers and sisters during the summer season.
“He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.” (Proverbs 10:5)
As baptized disciples, we have become sons and daughters of our great Abba! As His children, we are given the purpose of evangelism! While the world sleeps in, we are those that wake up early and prepare ourselves for the great harvest!
Prudent is defined as “acting with or showing care and thought for the future”. We are those that act and show care to the lost for the sake of their eternal futures!
Let’s commit ourselves to radical evangelism daily during this time of summer.
“The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved” (Jeremiah 8:20). Sadly, this is the statement of the Israelites at the end of their summer break. Let us be those that say “the harvest is reaped, the summer was surging, and we remain saved!”
Let’s have a summer surge!
Erik Rodas
Campus Intern
