Lord Are You Speaking?

 Hello Bride of Christ,

One of my weekly habits is to prepare for the upcoming week. I read lesson plans provided by my children's teachers to know what to expect for the coming school week. This enables me to run out to the store and buy supplies needed, mark it on my calendar so I can show up, fill my child's backpack with the relevant materials, and make sure my child has completed all the necessary assignments on-time. Another part of my getting ready for the coming week is ironing the week's worth of uniforms for my children to ensure they are ready to be grabbed out of closets on busy early mornings. I not only prepare for my children's school events, but also for my work. I read emails I missed during the week and reply. I look ahead at my work calendar to see meetings that have been scheduled and determine whether or not I have an agenda to prepare or provide input to. I also complete trainings with approaching deadlines. I am sure you have your readiness checklist or method for getting prepared. It may not be a week ahead or a day ahead, but you try your best to anticipate and get ready. 

Being prepared allows us to show up, be on time, and fully engage for the event or experience we have chosen to participate in. The Lord understands the need for preparing and taking time to be ready. In today's reading in the gospel of Luke chapter 12 we will hear directly from Jesus various parables He used to emphasize the need to be prepared.  

Are You Ready?

We will be discussing Luke 12 today and I want to encourage you to read the whole chapter because it has 59 verses I will only be sharing a few here today, but to gain the full richness of it you will need to dive into it separately. 

In Luke 12 Jesus is surrounded by a multitude of people, but He directs his words to His disciples. Disciples are followers of Jesus Christ, and as the Bride of Christ we can take these words and know Jesus is speaking to us. Although Jesus is speaking to His disciples Jesus speaks of a couple of different types of people: Pharisees (religious people), Friends, Authority / Magistrate, Hypocrites, Rich Men, Fools, Little Flock, Little Faith, Faithful Servants, Wise Steward. Regardless of which category or categories apply to us the message Jesus is sharing is the same... Be Prepared, Get Ready! 

Religious? Be prepared for all your sayings and deeds to come out into the light (vs2-3)

Friends of God? Be prepared to not fear man for hurting your physical body because God will not forget you, but in fact knows every hair on your head and values you more than the sparrows He also tends (vs4-7). 

Going before authority / magistrate? Be prepared for the Holy Spirit will teach you in the very hour what you should say (vs8-12).

Rich or Fool? Be prepared your soul is required of you and in it lies treasures. Determine whether or not they are treasures of eternal value or this passing world (vs 13-21).

Little faith? Be prepared for life is more than food and the body more than clothes; trust in God (vs 22-30).

Little flock? Be prepared and seek first the kingdom of God because it is your Father's great pleasure to give you the kingdom (vs31-34).

Faithful servant? Be prepared let your waist be girded and your lamps burning and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return...that they may open to him immediately. Blessed are the servants whom the master, when he comes finds watching....therefore you also be found ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (vs33-40).

A striking question is asked after Jesus has been speaking for a while, parable after parable..."Lord do You speak this parable only to us or to all people?"(Luke12:41) I can only imagine Jesus face with this question...it reminds me when I am looking into my son's face and giving him advice and he interrupts me to ask are you speaking to me or about my brothers... lol. 

Get Ready

Bride of Christ, unlike me the Lord answers graciously with yet another parable. The parable of the faithful and wise steward (vs42-48). He encourages us to be ready for the master's coming. Do not think he is delaying. For the thought of delay encourages procrastination, and gives false perception that there is more time. 

Bride of Christ, get ready for our master, Lord, Savior, Friend is coming at an hour we know not, but may He come knock and find us watching and ready to open the door immediately! As Jesus encouraged, "Blessed is that servant whom his master will find doing when he comes."