I can remember as a child, the anxiety of waiting for a package that we knew was coming to be delivered to our house.  Every car or truck that came down the street raised our anxiety and expectation.  Every hour of waiting was filled with a nervous anticipation that the thing we were waiting for was about to show up.  All of those feelings — the anxiety, the nervousness, the anticipation, and the waiting — kept our “awareness antennae” up and tuned in to any and everything that might signal the coming of ‘the package.'

          Perhaps, that is the level of anticipation that Luke is suggesting that we have as we await the return of Christ.  And it’s not just the emotion of waiting he’s concerned about.  It’s how we live — keeping our lamps of faithful stewardship lighted — not just for our sakes, but for the sake of those who are in the dark but are looking toward the light for direction and visibility.

         Our role as Christians and stewards of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is more than a slow and arduous wait for his return.  It’s supposed to be a time of visible service to others and a time of heightened expectation and excitement as we await the return of the one we know is faithful.  In order for us to live that lifestyle out, we have to stay ready for Christ’s return living and showing others that what we believe is true.

• What does ‘being dressed and ready for service’ mean for you as you seek to let your lamp burn brightly waiting for Christ’s return?
• How does your anticipation fuel your energy to continue in service, or to invite others to serve with you?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Holy and loving God, empower me to live my life of service to You faithfully. Guide me such that I can stay ready for your return whenever it happens.

         Whether we live like it or not, there is a certain expectation of activity required for those of us who claim to belong to Christ.  The idea of being asleep — living as if our faith is imaginary or just a thing that we claim without any expectations attached to it — is not a suitable character trait for those who belong to Christ.  It’s those activities done by those who claim to belong to Christ that leads us to be labeled hypocrites, liars, and pretenders.  And two things happen within that cycle of labeling.  One, those who are involved in sleep-like activities often see others who claim to belong to Christ engaged in the same activities and are encouraged to believe “everyone’s doing it”.  They are therefore not held accountable and continue living the lie.  And two, those who are not participating in sleep-like activities but do hold others accountable are viewed as judgmental, lacking the grace that those being held accountable believe Christ would offer.  It’s in many ways a Catch-22 situation.  Nevertheless, it doesn’t relieve any of us who have accepted God’s grace in Jesus Christ from the necessary obligation to live as if we belong to Christ.  There is — and will always be — the expectation that as children of God, we would live to honor our God — awake and sober — and not as children who have lost their way and connection to their Lord and Savior.

• What should be the response of those who live as if they’re awake and sober, respond to those who live as if they’re asleep?
• What does it mean for those who believe to live as if we’re awake and sober?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Lord, keep me ever mindful that I am Yours so that I live as if I’m awake and sober. Enable me to allow the light of Your Spirit to shine through my life in ways that give honor and glory to you.

         It’s important to remember our responsibilities.  Sometimes we get caught up in the circumstances of the moment and lose sight of what’s really important.  We all do this.  Sometimes the emergency of the moment can supersede what’s on our calendars.  What we don’t have the freedom to do is take a vacation from everything that’s important to us to do whatever it is we wish.  The mice may be allowed to play for a little while when the cat’s away, but eventually the cat will come home, and it’s in the best interest of the mice to have taken care of their responsibilities — leaving no evidence of their frolicking — while the cat was absent.

         This seems to be a story more about faithful discipleship.  But in reality, it is the faithful steward who doesn’t have to get ready for the master to come.  It’s the faithful steward who doesn’t play when the cat’s away.  It’s the faithful steward that “stays ready”, not knowing when the master will return, but living with the reality that the master could return when least expected.  In that case, the old saying, “better late than never” doesn’t work.  The only thing that gets us through the urgency of the moment of return is to “stay ready.”

• What might it be like to be caught by surprise of an early return, knowing that you had failed to do your duties?
• Why is staying ready — especially for the return of our master — so important?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Gracious and loving God, empower me to always be ready to meet the moment of your return. Help me to stay focused on my duties of faithful stewardship.