Stay Awake!

SCRIPTURE

Mark 13:32-37 (NRSV)
Keep awake

"But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake - for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."



DEVOTION

Although the Christian liturgical season of Advent has come and gone this year, as Christians we are always in a posture of expectation and hope as we await the glorious return of Jesus to the Earth.

I love today’s scripture reading because it fills me with a huge amount of excitement!

When I was a little girl I used to love to go to Six Flags which is an amusement park. Once a date was set, I counted down diligently upon my calendar. I imagined what it would be like to ride my favorite rides and eat my favorite foods. If I was going with my church youth group, I looked forward to roaming the grounds without the supervision of my parents! Looking forward to going to Six Flags was almost as grand as the actual visitation!

In the same way, I truly look forward to the second coming of Christ! Scripture teaches us that no one—except God—knows the day or time that Jesus will return! In my mind this means that we must always be ready to greet the King of Kings and to usher in the Reign of God on Earth as it is in Heaven.

How can we be ever ready? I believe that by living a Life of Love we will always be ready to greet our king. We keep ourselves awake by feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothes to the naked, homes to the homeless, visitation to the sick and imprisoned, and care to the widows and orphans. We keep ourselves awake by attending to our relationship, being slow to anger and quick to listen and forgive. We keep ourselves awake by “watching and praying,” whilst we meditate on and obey God’s Word.

I don’t know about you, but I’m EXCITED!

Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ shall come again!


Let's pray:

Good and gracious God, it is so amazing that a day will come when we will see you descend from the clouds! I can’t wait for that glorious day, but wait I must! Please help me to “stay awake” as I love and serve all of your children to the best of my ability. When you return, I want you to find me hard at work sowing the seeds of Love for your bountiful harvest! I love you and I promise to share our love with others. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.



THE INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html