Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Be Prepared

Scripture:
Matthew 24:32-44 (NIV)

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Devotional:

Are you ready for when the thief comes?  Today we have alarm systems and surveillance cameras to detect when someone tries to break in.  Cameras can be used to see what happened and who was there.  We think we are safe when in reality we still don’t know when someone might attempt to break in.  In fact if they are good enough they can bypass all your security measures. 

So let me ask this question.  Are you ready for Jesus’s return?  How is your heart?  Are you really prepared, or just think you are?  I know there are times when I struggle.  I know that I am not ready.  So how doe we get ourselves ready?  What must we do?  Take a few minutes and look at your own heart and mind.  What can you do to be better prepared?  I will not pretend to have all the answers but what I do know is that the condition of my heart is the key.  Gary Smalley wrote a book titled “Change Your Heart Change Your Life.”  In his book he shares more truth in that statement that I have heard from most others.  He shares that what is in our hearts will be what comes out.  He points out the Biblical truth in that statement. 

So if you want to be prepared a good place to start is to look at the condition of your heart, read the Bible, and most importantly pray.  Talk to God and get to know Him.  Ask Him questions and seek Him out.  He is there waiting for you to call out to Him.  He will help you change the condition of your heart.  He will help you to be prepared.  Finally surround yourself with fellow Christians.  It is through fellowship with each other that we can grow, learn, and strengthen one another…

Please feel free to email me back or post a response if you feel like sharing, japonzio@sgly.org. 

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