In The Word
Read: Luke 12:35-59
Be in Readiness
35 “Be prepared, and keep your lamps lit. 36 You are also to be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door for 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 prepare himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and he will come up and serve 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; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think He will.”
41 Peter said, “Lord, are You telling 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 take a long time to come,’ and he begins to beat the other slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; 46 then the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two, 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 accordance with his will, will receive many blows, 48 but the one who did not know it, and committed acts deserving of a beating, will receive only a few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
Christ Divides People
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 think that I came to provide peace on earth? No, I tell you, 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, “Whenever you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. 55 And whenever you feel 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 how is it that you do not know how to analyze this present time?
57 “And why do you not even judge by yourselves what is right? 58 For when you are going with your accuser to appear before the magistrate, on the way, make an effort to settle with him, so that he does not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out of there until you have paid up the very last lepton.”
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.