...come back to the Lord...

Return To The Lord!

35 “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36 be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes during the middle of the night or near dawn and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

39 “But know 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, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 That slave who knew what his master wanted but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required, and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded” Luke 12:35-48.

This story from Jesus repeats a common theme of Jesus, namely, that life is a journey. And so often Jesus speaks of the journey of life having a strong sense of urgency. God’s Kingdom demands a complete reordering of our priorities in life. Jesus knew that a huge showdown was about to occur, when the forces of light and darkness would be in a fierce battle, resulting in His own death. But this story also points to the end time, which will be a serious test for all of us. You and I cannot relax.

So Jesus tells a story of the Master returning home again, and Jesus warns us all to think about what Jesus will find in each of us when He returns. This story certainly speaks of the end time. We must pray that we do not fail anymore in our responsibilities in life, for when Jesus returns, what will He find each of doing? Will we be working hard in the tasks God has assigned to each of us? Or will He find us relaxing and abusing all of the grace God has given to us.

Take time in prayer, today, and beg the Lord to bring you back from wherever you are, to serve Him all the remaining days and hours of your life.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.

From the Bible:

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses” Colossians 2:13.

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him” James 2:14?

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test” 2 Corinthians 13:5!

“When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive”

Psalm 69:32.

“And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur” Revelation 19:20.

“Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire” Jude 1:7.

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 John 2:1.