Believers be ready
Jesus told this parable,
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.
But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Luke 12:35-40.
The apostle Peter obviously believed those words because he wrote,
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”2 Peter 3:10.
What is said here is said to believers in Christ Jesus. We believe that Jesus will one day return to this earth to judge all mankind. As believers in Christ it is important that Jesus finds us faithfully serving Him.
All too many people go to church on Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas worship God and do nothing else. The rest of the time they do their own thing.
Jesus told us,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
Now I know we can’t all be missionaries, pastors or evangelist. But we can serve in our local church, be it as an usher, teacher, or even a cleaner. We can visit the sick in hospital and prisoners.
James the half brother of Jesus said,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.
So the question becomes, If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus are you serving him to the best of your ability?
Please think about it.
Jesus told this parable,
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.
But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Luke 12:35-40.
The apostle Peter obviously believed those words because he wrote,
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”2 Peter 3:10.
What is said here is said to believers in Christ Jesus. We believe that Jesus will one day return to this earth to judge all mankind. As believers in Christ it is important that Jesus finds us faithfully serving Him.
All too many people go to church on Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas worship God and do nothing else. The rest of the time they do their own thing.
Jesus told us,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
Now I know we can’t all be missionaries, pastors or evangelist. But we can serve in our local church, be it as an usher, teacher, or even a cleaner. We can visit the sick in hospital and prisoners.
James the half brother of Jesus said,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.
So the question becomes, If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus are you serving him to the best of your ability?
Please think about it.
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