He's talking to me

"But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through. Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of Man cometh. Peter said, 'Lord, are you addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?'"  (Luke 12: 39-41 NASB)

I love Peter. He's so forthright. His thoughts fly right out his mouth, and it's a good thing, because they're often my thoughts, too. 

Peter had listened as Jesus told them about the lilies, and storing up treasure in heaven, the master who had gone to the wedding feast and the servants who waited with expectation. He listened to it all. Since some instructions had been for the disciples alone, Peter wanted to be sure about this one, too. Is this for everyone or just for us?

Jesus answered him with another parable, but He was telling Peter that His words were for everyone, and everyone includes you and me. How wild is that? 2000 years ago, Jesus spoke words that apply specifically to me today. I think they all apply to me, but in this little spot, Peter and Jesus confirm it. 

I'm talking to you, Leanna, so listen up.

Why are you worrying about food, clothing, and the things you think you need? My Father will provide it all. I'm talking to you, Leanna.

Stop worrying, and don't doubt Me. (Luke 12:29) I'm talking to you, Leanna.

Be ready and waiting. I'm coming back. I'm talking to you.

We will move into some hard words from Jesus tomorrow, and we may not like them. It's important to realize, from the start, that Jesus is talking to US and He expects us to take His words seriously. Ouch.

For today, it's enough to know that the words we've just studied were also for us. 

Stop worrying and don't doubt Me. 

On this day, as I begin my first-ever writing conference, begin to establish myself as a "professional writer" (whatever that means), and prepare to meet with agents and editors and fellow authors, I'm very glad these words apply to me. Stop worrying, Leanna. I've got this. Don't doubt Me.

As you go about your day, remember the words of Jesus. 

Stop worrying and don't doubt Me. 

He's speaking directly to you. Whatever your need, He can handle it. Trust Him. 

~~~~~~~

Our Father in Heaven, who sees and provides for sparrows and lilies, forgive us for our worry and our distraction by things. Help us to give our day, our lives, into Your caring hands. We choose to trust You for all that You have planned for our day and ask for the bread (and all the needs) of this one day. Help us to please You today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

photo provided by www.turnbacktogod.com

Waiting well: Living like we believe

"But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. You, too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." (Luke 12:39-40 NASB)

Our Waiting Well series began a with a post on serving faithfully, followed by keeping our lamps lit, waiting for the bridegroom to return from the marriage feast, our response to His knock, and the response of Christ to us when we open the door to His knock. Yesterday, we considered the importance of being ready to serve in the night watches.  (Click on the link to read the earlier posts.)

In the six verses considered in the Waiting Well series, Jesus repeatedly said, "Be ready, Be ready." He had't gone back to heaven yet, but already He was preparing His disciples for His return. Be ready. I'm coming when you don't expect it. Be ready.

I'm ready to hear something else. My heart says, "Enough!" And then I remembered something important. When Jesus repeated Himself, it was for a reason. 

In this instance, He understood that our tendency is to become so wrapped up in our own little worlds, our own little lives, that we forget about our big eternal lives and our enormously powerful King who will return for us one day. 

We forget that this life we are living is not all the living we will do.

Last night, as I prepared for bed, I checked all the doors and locked them. I don't expect a thief or a home invasion, but I locked my doors to prevent that possibility. Every single night, I lock my doors against that possibility. The doors aren't always locked in the daytime, especially if I'm moving in and out from house to barn. You can be sure they'd be locked though, if I knew a thief was headed my way.

With that same preventive expectation, we need to be ready for Jesus. Consistently prepared. 

I'm ready to move on to different Scripture. These "being ready" verses seem so... same.

Today, I realized something new. Jesus hammered this point because He wants us to live with eternity in mind. To be intentional.

I locked my doors with a thief in mind.  

What if we lived our lives, made our choices, our routines, with eternity in mind? How would it change our actions? Our words? 

Would we say the same things, do the same things, if we thought Jesus would arrive on the scene for us before the words were out, the action completed?

This emphasis on being ready was for a reason. We are to live ready. The promise of eternity should change everything we do, mold every word we speak.  

Our King is coming, and we should be living like we believe it. 

When the world sees us, they should see people who expect their Sovereign King to split the sky and step into view at any moment. Let's be sure they do.

~~~~~~~

Our Father, who lives and reigns in Heaven, help us to live as if you were returning today. Let us show the world how the hope of eternal life in Christ changes everything. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Waiting Well: Ready to Serve, No Matter How Late

"Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves." (Luke 12: 35-38 NASB)

Our Waiting Well series began a with a post on serving faithfully, followed by keeping our lamps lit, waiting for the bridegroom to return from the marriage feast, and our response to His knock. Yesterday, we looked at  the response of Christ to us when we open the door to His knock. (Click on the link to read the earlier posts.)

Today, we turn to the issue of the watch. To understand the "watch", we need to understand the Jewish method of keeping time. The day was twelve hours long. (John 11:9) The first hour of the day began at 6 am, which is basically at sunrise. Ex - 2:00 pm (our time) is the eighth hour. 

The night was also considered to be twelve hours, and began at 6 pm. It was divided into four three-hour watches. (These are the watches during which a watchman, guarding the city by watching for invaders, would be on the lookout.) 

The first watch is 6pm-9pm. 
The second watch is 9pm-12 pm.
The third watch is 12 midnight to 3 am.
The fourth watch is 3 am to 6 am.

In today's focus scripture, Jesus tells His disciples, "Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so (dressed and waiting), blessed are those slaves." Whether it is at our death or at the time of His second coming, we are to be ready and waiting. 

Servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding party might reasonably expect him to return in the first watch, but second watch would be late, especially in a time without electric lights. The third watch would be very late for a returning master. A faithful waiting servant, however, would still be ready to serve when the master returns, no matter the hour.

We, too, are to be ready to serve, no matter how long our Lord delays. No matter our age. No matter how much service we have given before. You might not have noticed, but there is a blessing for those who are still up, ready to serve, at the late hour. "Blessed are those slaves."

When we continue to serve Christ, even into the second and third watch of our lives, He takes note. He blesses.  When we continue to serve Christ in a dark and frightening world, despite His delayed return, He takes note. He blesses.

It is easy to serve so long, with so little recognition, that we begin to think no one notices. No one cares about our service. Take heart. Our Lord notices. He cares.

Press on. Your service is not in vain. It has not been overlooked.

~~~~~~~

Our Father, help me to endure, to persevere, in righteousness and good works, no matter how dark the night around me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Waiting Well: When Jesus Enters, He Serves

"Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. " (Luke 12: 35-38 NASB)

Our Waiting Well series began a with a post on serving faithfully, followed by keeping our lamps lit, and waiting for the bridegroom to return from the marriage feast. Yesterday, we looked at our response to His knock. (Click on the link to read the earlier posts.) Today, we turn to the response of Christ to us when we open the door to His knock.

Our topic today is one of the great ironies of our faith. Jesus gave clear instructions that we are to be ready as servants waiting for their master. Dressed, lamp lit, we are to listen for His knock at the door, open it immediately, and welcome Him at His return. 

We will fling the door wide, expecting to serve the One our heart most loves and what will happen? Our Master will stride in the door, hitch up his robes, and begin to minister to us, instead. He will have us sit at the table and He will serve us. 

On His return, the Suffering Servant will be the Serving Master.

Lest you think this is not really service, the Greek word translated as "serve" is diakoneō  and literally means "to serve food and drink at the table". 

At the very moment when I should welcome Him with refreshment, He will serve me, instead.

Why? Why would the Creator and King serve me, His servant? Because He loves me. Because He sets an example that I should follow. 

He serves because serving others is the very nature of Christ and He never stops serving.

Christ's heart for service should be my heart, as well. Even when I think others should serve me, I will serve, instead, if I am following the example of Jesus. 

But do I? 

Our King is coming and it is our job to welcome Him, serving faithfully until the moment He enters the door. What a glorious entrance that will be!

The King is coming. Be ready.

~~~~~~~

Our Father, thank you for Jesus' example of serving others. Help me to serve others with the same happy heart of love with which Christ serves. Make me a blessing to someone today. In Jesus' name, Amen.