Scripture: Luke 12.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Luke 12:39-40 (NLT)

39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Summer is here and many will be planning vacation trips, perhaps making hotel, airline or rental car reservations, making sure the suitcases are ready for packing, etc. All of these things are important when planning a successful vacation. Similarly we are very careful to plan each day so that we may be successful and efficient in what we do. Yet many of us never stop to make sure that we take care of ourselves, and to insure that we personally are prepared for life itself. Jesus reminds us in this passage that it is even more important that we be fully prepared for His return and/or our end of life as we know it here on earth. Throughout this passage Jesus carefully told us a few things that would help us know that we are ready, because He shared qualities of a person who is ready. He taught us in:

• Verse 1: That we should not be hypocritical – knowing, believing and teaching the right thing, but un-thoughtfully reacting and disobeying what we know and teach (not sincere);
  
• Verse 4-9: That we not be fearful, but always ready to witness;
  
• Verse 25-26: That we not be worried, but always trusting in the power and might of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ;
  
• Verse 34: That we not be greedy, but always generous, both with our financial blessings, our God-given talents, our time and our energies;
  
• Verse 37: That we not be lazy, but always diligent and ready to do the Father’s will and work;
  

May we strive to be more like Christ every day, so that when He comes, we will be ready to greet Him – joyfully!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, I acknowledge that I want to be more like You every day and in every way, but I know that I need Your almighty hand to guide me, mold me and strengthen me so that others will see the love of Jesus in all that I do and say. Most of all, so that You will see one of Your children totally dedicated to You and Your teachings, without hypocrisy. Thank You for showing me the way through the teachings of Your Word, and thank You for providing Your Holy Spirit to lead me every day. May You find me faithful in all things.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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