Good Morning!
As I approach my keyboard this morning, I think about what to write. Last week, I hit a couple of days on Jesus’ return. I do believe I want this to be my “theme” for the year. You may have a “word” or some other thing that you do to keep your focus sharp for the year. Maybe you don’t. I don’t know if it is all that necessary when we are already focused on Jesus, but it can be very helpful when we stray. That is, of course, if we remember what the thing is that is supposed to remind us of what to keep focused on in the first place. It can be like that special spot that I set my car keys, so I won’t forget.
In any case, this whole concept of being prepared for Jesus’ return is quite interesting. We believe he is coming back. We believe that the day is unknown. It could be this morning or yet today. It could be this month or this year. Yes, it could be many thousands of years away. We just don’t know. However, as we explored on New Year’s Eve, Jesus is very firm that we must be ready so that we are not caught unprepared.
What does he mean by that? Shall I spend my remaining days sitting on a mountain top with my eyes fixed to the sky? Of course not! Even Paul, the great evangelist, spent his time making a living with his own hands. We are to care for our families and one another. No, we must go about our lives. At the same time, we must also be ready.
It seems to me that Jesus is talking about behavior quite different to that. Why? Because he doesn’t want any of us to be caught in a lifestyle or behavior that is anything less that welcoming to his return. He wants us to greet him like small children greet their parents or a dog when his owner comes home. Yes, we will be snatched very quickly at the Rapture so we likely won’t even know it’s coming, but Jesus will be able to see if we are excited for him to arrive.
It all boils down to how we think. Might we be watching our behavior because we are worried about repercussion? That certainly is a motivator. Well, Jesus gave us warning in Luke 12:35-48. Suffice it to say that anything short of eager awaiting will have negative consequences. Only eager obedience will be rewarded handsomely. This is worth looking at.
Luke 12:35-38 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lights burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!
Let’s take a look at what we might consider a typo. Who is the one who gets served when the master comes home? It should be the master, right? After all, he just came back from a journey. His servants should be serving him. But, that’s not what Jesus said. Jesus said the MASTER will dress himself for service and have THEM recline at table, and HE will come and serve THEM. Can this be true? Yes, it is.
If we can directly relate this to Jesus’ own coming, we can easily see that there is incomprehensible benefit to this. INCOMPREHENSIBLE! It’s not that the roles change. No, the servant is still the servant and the master is still the master, yet we see the master serving the servants – those who are waiting.
Folks, this is a promise of God’s. I need to get my head in the game, that’s all I know.
Father, please, please, guide and correct me, quickly, so that I may always be ready. My tendency is to go about my business and eventually fall into sin. I really don’t want that. I want to be ready and eager for Jesus to return. I want to enjoy your favor. I need you to keep me awake. Amen.
Copywrite © 2019 Scott Powers