In The Word
Read Luke 12:35-59
Be in Readiness
35 “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.
Christ Divides Men
49 “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52 for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
54 And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. 55 And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?
57 “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58 For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Jesus commanded us to be dressed in readiness and keep our lamps lit. The phrase, “Dressed in readiness,” means to “gird oneself with a girdle or belt.” Girding oneself referred to the robe/tunic style clothing men wore. The long clothing wouldn’t allow for good mobility for labor or battle. So they would bundle up the long length of their garment above the knees, wrap it around their waist, and tie it like a belt. The phrase, “Keep your lamps lit,” means to “set on a candle on fire, a fire burning.” By looking at these definitions, we can see a couple truths to apply to our lives.
First, we need to live our lives ready for action. We have to be anxiously awaiting the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we aren’t dressed in readiness, then we will walk or run around stumbling all the time. We need to lay aside anything that would easily entangle us and run the race Jesus Christ has called us to.
Second, we need to be passionate for our Lord. We have to be candles that are lit; we must stay lit and have no shade on top of us to block the light from those around us. We are to live our lives before mankind showing the love of Jesus Christ at all times.
Jesus clearly stated that He will come unexpectedly, so we must stay ready and on fire for Him until that day comes. For if we aren’t, then we will be assigned to a place with the unbelievers. Get rid of anything that is hindering your relationship with Him today so you may be found ready and steady when He returns.