Watch Sunday’s Sermon – Week 8 of “Fan or Follower – Keep Watch!” (LISTEN HERE).
No one knows better the importance of being ready and being prepared than our men and women of our armed forces. As we honor our Veterans today, we remember the countless hours they spent training, practicing, and learning to be ready at a moment’s notice to be sent into combat to protect our country. Thank you to all who have and are serving each of us every day.
Vigilance and preparedness are key to victory in battle. How many victories have been won when one group of soldiers surprises another? Surprise attacks have a history of being successful because they catch the opposition asleep.
As we engage in life, we don’t want to be caught sleeping. Although it gets tiring to always be on the ready, it is a must.
Wednesday’s devotion (sorry I missed Thursday due to travel…and not getting one done ahead of time!), reminded us the key component of being ready is trust in Jesus as Savior and learning and following his Word.
What Jesus then encourages is for us to live each day with the expectation of his return, not in laziness, but in activity.
Jesus put it this way:
Matthew 24:45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 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. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Apostle Paul put it like this:
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Life takes on a different focus and purpose. Life is given fully to the Lord so that all I do every day is done to his glory. I view my time and treasures and talents as gifts entrusted to my by the Lord for use in his kingdom work. I realize that life is not about me, but compelled by the love of Christ, I live for Christ, not myself.
Perhaps it’s just being ALIVE…Always Living In View of Eternity…ALIVE.
WIth faith in our hearts, and God’s Word in our lives, we watch and wait…but while we watch and wait, we live for the Lord…every day! AMEN.
Apply: What changes today when you are ALIVE…Always Living In View of Eternity?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for all the men and women who serve us by serving our country. Let them know their effort matters so that we can live freely and fully for you, each day as we wait with eager anticipation for your return. AMEN.