May 5 Kingdom Preparation

Luke 12:35-40 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 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. 37 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. 38 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. 39 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. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
 
WE have a sense that tomorrow will always come, don’t we? But we know it doesn’t come for hundreds of thousands of people each day. Life ends abruptly or after a long struggle. The Lord urges all who call him, “Master” to be prepared at any moment to stand in his presence. 
    Verse 37 focuses on Jesus’ reward for your preparation. As Luke wrote to Theophilus (see Luke 1:3), who was a Roman citizen, he would know this image of a master serving and eating with his servants would be offensive to his friend and to any Roman of position or some wealth. No Roman master would consider such servant work to his own slaves.
    But Jesus describes here the image of a servant leader he exhibited in John 13:5 as he washed his disciples’ feet. What’s more, he declared his servant heart in Matthew 20:28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus assures his disciples again that he has prepared a table before for them. Be then prepared to welcome him into your life now and forever. The Master will be your friend as you “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)
    What a wondrous image the Lord gives to you! “Be dressed ready for service.” each day to meet with him through Bible study, prayer, worship and service. Live in Jesus’ assurance, “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready.” He has promised God’s perfection to you. Rejoice and be glad.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for the loving image you give to me. I long to serve you each day. I am ready to be with you forever. Amen.