Be Ready

     As Jesus was sharing with his disciples, thousands had gathered to listen Luke records in his Gospel account in Chapter 12.  In verses 35-40, Jesus admonished his followers to be ready for His return.  In reading this passage, I began to think of this season of Advent that we are in presently.  Awaiting Christmas and celebrating the birth of our Savior is not much different from awaiting His second coming.  However, when He returns, as He said He would, will He find us busy about His work?  This  is the subject found in this passage.

     In verses 42-48, we read:  "And the Lord said, 'Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.  Truly I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.  But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming, and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him to pieces and put him with the unfaithful.  And that servant who knew his master's will, will receive a severe beating.  But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating.  Everyone to whom much is given, of him much will be required and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.'"
     When we become a Christian, we enter into a covenant with our Lord.  We are His servants.  He has called each of us to a task in order to bring glory to God through our life.  Perhaps, we are a homemaker and mother to God's glory, or we may be a working person called to assist others in various ways.  However, whatever the place God has for us, He expects us to be obedient servants, following His commands and honoring Him by being a blessing to others.  We do not know when He will come again, and in the passage we just read, Jesus contrasted a faithful servant who is doing what his master has asked him to do and a scoundrel who decides to do what pleases himself rather than his master.  In both cases there are consequences.
     For the faithful servant, there is a reward of being given charge over more in his master's household. By contrast, the disobedient servant will receive a beating.  He failed his master because he did not do what was asked of him.
     Examples of this abound even in our homes.  When our children were young, they were asked to do certain chores.  They knew the ground rules and the consequences of not following through.  It brought me no pleasure as a parent to have to discipline them, but they needed to learn early on how important it is to follow through on our responsibilities.  The same is true in terms of our relationship with the Lord.
     Jesus has called us to be His ambassadors.  We are to share the Gospel with others and live holy, righteous lives reflecting the glory of the Lord.  Are we doing this each day or do we tell ourselves we have plenty of time?  After all, it has been 2,000 years since Jesus first walked this earth.  Yet, He could return even tomorrow.  We do not know the hour or the day, but we know He will return.  If we would live with His Second Advent in mind, we would be richly blessed for being a faithful servant.
     Are you hiding a talent you could be sharing? Are you neglecting to write or call  someone that God has placed upon your heart?  Whatever it is that He has called us to do, we must be about His business for we are His servants.  Let us be doers of the Word and not hearers only.  Let us be swift to obey and serve the Lord so we may not be found wanting in our service before our God.  Selah!


I welcome your thoughts and insights of encouragement.