October 24th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

On Duty

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

God of Truth, I live in a world overcome by lies. Today, may my words be disciplined by Your Word.

Read Luke 12:35-48

[35] “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, [36] like servants 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. Truly I tell you, 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 middle of the night or toward daybreak. [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.” [41] Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” [42] The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? [43] It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. [44] Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. [45] But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. [46] The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. [47] “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. [48] But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“And Jesus, I have promised / to serve Thee to the end; / O give me grace to follow / my Master and my Friend” (John Ernest Bode, 1816-74).

Think Further

While worry is to be addressed and dealt with, watchfulness is to be cultivated. Children tell parents in advance that their birthday is coming, and parents tell children likewise about exams. While these are definite dates, for some events we just have to be prepared. We do not do so by being anxious but by being faithful, so that we are always ready.

Jewish wedding feasts do not run to a strict timetable but, once begun, they conclude with the groom bringing his bride home. Preparations have to be made, requiring willingness to work and wise use of time. Such care will be more than rewarded. Today, time is the new currency, and we need to invest it well.

The delay in Christ’s return reflects not fickleness but mercy, allowing time for us to get ready. God does what he says, but on his timetable, not ours. Yet what a reward awaits those who are ready when he comes! Perhaps it shouldn’t surprise us that his first act is to serve the needs of his faithful servants. After all, he came to serve and he did wash dirty feet. Talk about undeserved grace! Sadly, for those unprepared, the shock will be like discovering a thief has broken in. Suddenly life is turned upside down, and the overwhelming feeling is one of loss. If only…but it is too late…except that it is not. This is a warning that needs to be acted on, now! Don’t drift into disaster; be decisive in your preparations and diligent in maintaining them. The choice is yours–joy or grief; it is not a difficult choice to make, but it must be made.

Apply

The faithful need not fear the unexpected. Pray for a consistent Christian life and ponder how you will stay “ready.”

Closing prayer

Father, You are the beginning and the end. I don’t request more time but a relationship with You at all times, so that I might be ready for Your time.

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