Ready!

 “Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. 36 You must be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open [the door] for him at once. 37 Those  slaves the master will find alert when he comes will be blessed.  I assure you: He will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, those slaves are blessed. 39 But know this: if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”

Luke 12:35-40 (HCSB)

Are you ready for Jesus' return.  The Bible is clear that He will return.  This parable instructs us to be ready.  The HCSB states it "ready for service."  I like that rendering because it get at the truth the Scripture implies.  We are not getting ready and watching for him as if we were on a "Star watch".  We are not waiting for a famous person or waiting for an unusual event to occur.  This passage implies that we have a job to do, a service for the King in preparation for His coming.

In other words, Christ followers are to be ready and serving until He arrives.  The job will not be done until we hear that trumpet call.  Stay alert!  Stay ready!  Stay busy!

Abundance?

A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.

John 10:10 (HCSB)

Jesus made a clear statement concerning His purpose of coming.  He came that we might have life that is abundant.  If that is the case why do so many Christ followers seem like they are not experiencing abundant life?  Is Jesus weak or unable to fulfill His purpose?  I would say no.  Therefore, the problem must lie with us as Christ followers.  Since the Scripture tells us that we have victory of the thief (Satan) through Jesus Christ, could it be that we have allowed Satan to steal our joy and bring destruction to our lives?

How do we overcome?  In a nutshell, we overcome by surrender.  We surrender to Jesus and abide in His love and life.  Our lack of abundance is not due to Jesus.  It is due to our disobedience and unwillingness to surrender to Him.

Today may be a good day for us as Christ followers to evaluate our abundance and question our obedience and surrender to the master.

Keeping Your Head Above Water

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Prov 3:5-7 (NASB95)

 There are days in my life that I feel like I am drowning.  Troubles overcome us and we feel like we are going under.  Proverbs 3.5-7 gives some good truth to help us keep our heads above the water.  The writer encourages us to trust the Lord.  Trust means that we know that He is in control and I don't have to be.  We also acknowledge Him.  In other words we recognize that He is the authority.  He is in charge and not us.  We usually try to follow our agenda but He has an agenda that will keep our paths straight if we will only follow Him.  Walk in wisdom by fearing the Lord and turning away from evil.  Its all about choices.  Will we follow our wisdom or will we fear Him, with awe and reverence and follow His wisdom.


When you are struggling don't try to go it alone.  Turn to the master.  You can trust Him with your life!

Happy Man -Right Perspective on Work

You will surely eat what your hands have worked for. You will be happy, and it will go well for you.

Psalms 128:2 (HCSB)

Many of us grumble when the alarm clock goes off Monday morning and we can't wait for the end of the work week on Friday.  But work is really something God intends to give us happiness.  We won't get into the whole make sure you're in the right job discussion.  But generally speaking work is one of those things God has given to make us happy.  We just need the right perspective.

The psalmist gives us a picture of a content and happy worker.  Why is He content and happy?  He knows that what he does at work is a gift from God for his and his families provision.  Here is the catch.  We have to be content.  Be happy with what we have and what God has provided.  Having the right attitude makes all the difference.  I love that the psalmist says it will go well for you.  Here is a simple fact:  when we work with the right attitude we will be a better worker and we will have the best experience (generally speaking) with our job, our boss and coworkers.  We will find contentment and happiness with the right perspective on work.

Happy Man -Right Perspective on God

How happy is everyone who  fears the Lord, who walks in His ways!

Psalms 128:1 (HCSB)

Joy and happiness are not the same thing.  Joy is a state of mind based upon the character and trust of God.  Happiness is an emotion.  God does not promise that we will be happy but that we can have joy.  That being said the Scripture still gives us a picture of what can help us to live a truly happy life.

True happiness can be achieve if we have the right perspective on God.  It begins with fear.  I know, it seems strange that we will find happiness in fear.  That word fear in the Scripture has many nuances.  It means reverence.  It means awe.  It also means fear.  When we realize who God is it will bring about a fear (see Isaiah 6) that draws us to awe and reverence the one who loves us.  We fear God when we realize who and what He is.  With that proper perspective we walk in His ways.  Guess what that does for us?  You go it.  We have the best shot at really living a good life that makes us happy.

Since God is God (which causes the fear) He knows what is best for us and what will really  make our lives good.  So fear Him.  Listen to Him.  Obey Him.  And enjoy!

Staying pure by the Word

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping Your  word.

Psalms 119:9 (HCSB)

In some segments of society there isn't even a desire for purity anymore.  For the Christ follower there should be. Purity is important and how do we stay pure.  By "keeping" the Word.  What exactly does that mean.  We could use the word obey or follow or even live by.  God gives us direction of how we should live our lives in purity if we will only keep His Word.

Serve with Gladness

1 Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. 3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are His   — His people, the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. 5 For the Lord is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations.

Psalms 100:1-5 (HCSB)

Thankfulness and gladness should characterize the Christ followers life.  For some service is a drudgery.  We serve out of a sense of obligation.  But for the Christ follower we should serve out of thankfulness and gladness because He is so good.  He is good.  His love has no limits.  He is faithful.  What a great God we serve!

Be Encouraged

Because he is lovingly devoted to Me, I will deliver him; I will exalt him because he knows My name. 15 When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor. 16 I will satisfy him with a long life and show him My salvation.

Psalms 91:14-16 (HCSB)

 These verses from Psalm 91 are truly encouraging.  I am so glad that I belong to Him.  It gives great comfort to know that God takes my struggles, trials and need of help seriously.  Be encouraged Christ follower, you are not alone!

He alone!

Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and glory depend on God; my strong rock, my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge.

Psalms 62:5-8 (HCSB)

There is a truth that every person must remember.  At some point others are going to let us down.  Every pastor, spouse, teacher, friend, coworker or child will let you down.  That is everyone but God.  God never lets us down.  Therefore, the psalmist can write "rest in God alone".  "He alone is my rock."  My salvation and glory depend on God."  Trust in Him at all times."

While others let you down God deserves your trust.  He is a refuge that never fails.  As you go through this week trust Him, rely on Him and rest in Him.  You will not be disappointed!