One of our challenges
for 2014 is to learn and live all 50 commands of Jesus.
Jesus told us that following his commandments is a way to love him and a way
for his love and his joy to fill our lives (John 15:9-12). In his Great
Commission, Jesus tells his followers to make disciples of all nations,
teaching them to obey everything he commanded us (Matthew 28:19-20). So
each week in this year we are learning and living one command of Jesus.
Here is our command for this week...
Week 24:
“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come
at an hour when you do not expect him. Who then is the faithful and wise
servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to
give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose
master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in
charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to
himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' and he then begins to beat
his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that
servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not
aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,” (Matthew 5:11-12).
Application:
We are coming to the end of the Advent Season. The word “advent” comes from a Latin word
that literally means “coming.” During
Advent we focus on two “comings.” We
celebrate the coming of Jesus as a baby in Bethlehem, and we anticipate the day
when Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.
The wait to celebrate Jesus’ first coming is almost
over. Christmas is only a few days
away. But God only knows how the long
the wait will be for the second coming of Jesus. Almost every generation has thought it would
be in their time, but it has been over 2000 years since Jesus promised he would
come again. So we should anticipate the
wait is not over yet.
But this waiting is different than most. It is not a passive waiting where you sit by
idly until the thing you were waiting for happens. This is an active waiting. Jesus gave us clear assignments (commands) of
what we are to do until he returns. So
we have a job to do while we wait. Our
command in this passage is to be always ready for his return. Whether Jesus comes today, tomorrow, or in
another 2000 years, he should return to find his people doing his will.
When I was young, I did not like to do homework. I liked to watch TV. My dad wanted me to get my homework done because
he knew how important it was for my growth and my future. I was a sneaky kid. I tried to watch TV up until the time I heard
his keys jingling outside – the cue that he was home from work. My dad was no fool. One day he held his keys so they would not
jingle. Sure enough, he walked in on me
watching TV. There were some big consequences.
If Jesus came back today, what would he find us doing? Would we be seeking him diligently? Would we be feeding the hungry? Would we be clothing the naked? Would we be visiting prisoners? Would we be welcoming the stranger? Would we be providing water for the
thirsty? Would we be making peace? Would we be giving generously? Would we be serving passionately? Would we be boldly sharing the Good News that
broke into the world with the first coming of Jesus?
I don’t want to play games with Jesus. He is no fool. I know that he is good and everything he has
called me to do is for my own good and the good of the world. No matter when Jesus comes back, I want to
live ready. How about you? What can you do today or this week to be
ready for Jesus’ return?
Share your comments and application ideas…
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