(Luke
12:35-48) “Be dressed in readiness, and keep
your lamps lit. 36 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. 37
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. 38 Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and
finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
39 “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. 40 You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming
at an hour that you do not expect.”
41 Peter
said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as
well?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible
steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them
their rations at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master
finds so doing when he comes. 44 Truly I say to you that he will put him in
charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My
master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men
and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; 46 the master of that slave will
come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and
will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47 And
that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord
with his will, will receive many lashes, 48 but the one who did not know it, and
committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who
has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of
him they will ask all the more.”
Reminder:
"praying effectively" involves knowing God's will. When we pray in His will (in His name), He
may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like,
or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!
It is God's will:
- that we are ready, which is to become a believer before
it is too late (Lk.12:39-40)
- that we are dressed in readiness, which is to be a
believer and clothed in Christ’s righteousness (Lk.12:35)
- that we keep our lamps lit, which is to be living out
God’s will in such a way that those around us will notice a difference
(Lk.12:35)
- that we are alert in serving the Lord as He gives us
opportunities (Lk.12:37-38, 42-43)
- that we are eagerly awaiting the day when we get to see
Christ face to face for all eternity (Lk.12:36)
Today's prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for being
just, fair and very patient with us.
Help us realize that You know exactly when the harvest will be
ready. Let us have full confidence in
Your timing, and look forward to seeing You face to face. In the meantime, help us, Your children, to
recognize opportunities and to faithfully serve You and others, sharing the
good news to those around us.
Help those who have heard the gospel message
understand. Convict their hearts to see
their need for Your forgiveness, in order to be clothed in Your
righteousness. Amen.
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