PERPETUALLY
PREPARED
LUKE
12:35-40
(See
also Matthew 25:1-13)
Luke
12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Susie: The
men at the time of Christ wore long tunics. When they needed to move freely to
do manual labor, they would bring the hem of the tunic up between their legs
and tuck it into their belt. We are to be prepared to do the work Jesus has
called us to do. The Apostle Peter used this as an analogy for mental and
spiritual preparedness.
1
Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the
end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus
Christ;
Susan: The light of Jesus’s presence should be
apparent to those who know us. The difference that Jesus makes in our lives
should be evident to anyone we encounter as we go about our day to day lives.
Matthew
5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Luke
12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will
return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto
him immediately.
Susie: Servants
were expected to be on the lookout for their master’s return in order to greet
him with torch lights burning.
Susan: We
should be waiting expectantly for Christ’s return, keeping ourselves in the
word, prayerfully prepared, fulfilling the Great Commission by making
disciples.
Susie: We are
not to sit idly by until He comes. We are to be about the work of His Kingdom
and keeping our hearts focused on Him.
Susan: We
should be focused not on our own needs but on our service to Jesus and His
people.
Luke
12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find
watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to
sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Susie: As
with the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, the Lord is warning us
to be prepared for His return. You may remember the story that five virgins were
prepare with extra oil for their lamps and five had to go out to buy more oil.
The Bridegroom returned while they were away, and they missed the wedding. He
ended that parable with this warning:
Matthew
25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son
of man cometh.
Susan: The
Master will reward those who are prepared and eagerly expect His arrival. The faithful
servants will be elevated to the position of guests.
Luke
12:38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and
find them so, blessed are those servants.
Susie: The
second watch was 9:00 p.m. to midnight, and the third was midnight to 3:00 a.m.
Both would be inconvenient times to be ready and watching.
Susan: Unless
you are like me and have your days and nights mixed up. LOL. However, those who
are diligent will be blessed, favored by the Master.
Luke
12:39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the
thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be
broken through.
Susie: Jesus
shifts from the homeowner returning to faithful servants to the unfortunate
homeowner who went out for the evening and came back to find his house
burglarized. Had he known the burglars were lurking, he would have never left
the place unguarded. However, I’ve never heard of a burglar calling ahead to
schedule an appointment.
Luke
12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye
think not.
Susan: Both
illustrations underscore the fact that we have no idea of the day, hour, or
minute that Jesus will return to earth. In all actuality, only the Father truly
knows when Jesus is coming.
Matthew
24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but
my Father only.
Susie: The
point Jesus was making was that like the Boy Scouts we should “Always be
prepared.” This is not a physical preparation such as stock piling food or
knowing how to start a campfire. This is the far more important spiritual preparation
of being right with God through a relationship with His Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Ponder
this and Apply it: Are you eagerly anticipating the return of
Jesus or are you fearful of it on some level. If you belong to Him, there is no
need to fear. However, I think we all want to be found serving and obeying Him
whether He comes for us in death or He catches up to be with Him in the clouds.
May we be as excited about His return as the children in this song:
“Fingertips
and Noses” by Newsong:
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