By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Stay Awake!

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” Matthew 24:42 English Standard Version

These tricycles and scooters look like they are ready to go!  In just a few minutes I will be starting a whole group of energetic preschoolers on a trike-a-thon to raise money for a local charity.  The children were ready to go!

Are you ready to go?  Not on a trike-a-thon, but to be gathered up by the angels to join our Lord Jesus?  Are you ready for Jesus to come in all His glory and take you home?

Many times I have sat with a person in declining health and chronic illness who definitely is “ready to go”  to be with Jesus.  But if you are not nearing the end of your physical life, would you be ready to go be with Jesus if He came?

Our Lord says to us, “… you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”  You and I need to be watching and ready at all times, living in a way that we might be ready to join Jesus. What would that mean, to live always ready to have Jesus come again?

It means that we would be following His will and doing the things that He want

s us to do.  It means that we would be confident that we are focused on the things of God, not on the things of this earth.  It means that we are living in forgiveness, sharing the Good News, listening to His Word, loving others as He loves us.

Most of all it would mean that we are listening to the Holy Spirit, to His direction and conviction and comfort and counsel.  That we would be awake and alert to God’s grace given to us daily and thankful for all His love and good gifts He has given to us.

Are you ready?  The Lord will come soon to take us all home.  Let us welcome Him with joy and no regrets!  Come, Lord Jesus!  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado