“You too, be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
Luke 12:40, LSB
Are you ready? These words are often used to excite our hearts and minds for some great event or show, but these words are, more importantly, given by our Lord Jesus Christ. As He was teaching His disciples, He left a warning for them always to be prepared for His return. We, too, are called to be prepared. Like Jesus’ garden friends, our Lord calls us to stay awake and not fall into temptation. We will be confronted at times in our lives when all the things that we have learned will be challenged. If all that we know and believe is centered in that which brings the challenge, how well will our faith stand? If your faith is placed in the congregation and those friendships you have made there, how strong will your faith remain when they fail you? We are called to fix our eyes on Christ and Christ alone. In our Lord’s final hours, He was betrayed by a close friend, left alone, and denied as being known by a friend who had said he would never leave Him. If we stand by our Lord, we know that He will never leave us, betray us, or deny us. His promises stand firm, and we know this because He showed us His commitment to us. Now, let us stand ready and keep our eyes on Him as we await His return and never lose sight of His promises.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.