There was a movie released several years ago titled, “Walk on the Wild Side”.  The chorus to the song, which was nominated for an Academy Award stated,

            “One day of praying and six nights of fun;

            the odds of you going to heaven — six to one.”

Those words probably more accurately reflect what it means to be prepared and to stay prepared.  There are — without a doubt — people who play in their faith throughout the week.  They do all of the “Christian things”.  They go to church on Sunday, occasionally do some act of mercy.  If pushed, they may even defend their faith position, but usually only to justify satisfying their worldly pleasures than an act of Christian stewardship.  They sing songs of faith, and pray, but their commitment to Christ is virtually non‑existent.  And the truth is, it’s difficult to tell them from others who never go to church, worship God within the community of faith, live their lives Sunday through Saturday being generous to whomever they choose, yet lacking the effort to love everyone.

         There is more to staying ready than having done king and benevolent things.  Those who have a relationship with Christ where they do what they wish — believers and non-believers alike — place themselves in the unwelcome position of being unprepared for Christ’s coming.  They think it’s important for them to know Christ without realizing that it’s more important for Christ to know you.  Christ will only claim to know us if we’ve remained faithful in our waiting, staying ready to receive him when he comes.  It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in Christ’s name if we haven’t stayed ready and are recognizable by him when he comes.

• How can you be assured by your faith that you know Christ and Christ knows you?
• What are you doing in your faith life to stay ready as evidence that you and Christ know one another?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Merciful Christ, let me be led by faith and works as evidence that you know me by our relationship and that I’m staying ready for your return.

         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.