Grace & Truth: People Get Ready!
Pastor Kent Landhuis
THEME - Pay attention to the signs of readiness.
TEXT - Luke 12:13-56
Four questions to diagnose readiness:
1. Is your focus now or not now?
Luke 12:13-21. Parable of the rich fool.
Signs: greed or gratitude.
2. Is your strategy wise or not wise?
Luke 12:35-41. Parable of the unwise steward.
Signs: unfaithful or faithful.
3. Is your posture ready or not ready?
Luke 12:42-48. Parable of the thief in the night.
Signs: not alert or alert?
4. Is your heart trusting or not trusting?
Luke 12:54-56.
Signs: Afraid or unafraid.
NEXT STEPS
1. Get ready.
2. Stay ready.
GO DEEPER:
People Get Ready by Curtis Mayfield
People get ready, there's a train a-comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord
There is a lot that we don’t know about the return of Jesus (like the time) but there are some things we do know without a doubt. Three things we know for sure:
1. Jesus will return again. (It could be soon.)
2. The return of Jesus will be sudden and unexpected. (There will be no time to prepare after he returns.)
3. We are called to get ready and stay ready for the return of Jesus.
Preparing for Jesus' return requires living a life of active faith, vigilance, and holiness in one's daily duties. This means cultivating spiritual alertness, pursuing holiness, and faithfully living out our calling while wearing the full armor of God.
Preparation also involves embracing suffering with hope; focusing on love for God and others; growing in faith through prayer, scripture, community, service, etc.; and reaching out with the love of Jesus to others. Getting ready for the return of Jesus is part of our walk as disciples of Jesus.
Until Jesus returns we are called to trust God in all things. Are you ready?
“He who calls you is faithful. He will surely DO IT” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:24