Be Prepared

Scripture:  Matthew 24:42 - Be prepared, because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.  

Few Christ-followers would deny that we, of all people, should value what our Lord values, and our God “wrote the book” on preparation! Before the Israelites could cross the Jordan River, heading into the Promised Land, their leader commanded them to sanctify themselves, for the Lord was about to do wonders among them. (Joshua 3:5) Such purification was frequently a preparatory step for God’s people before His accomplishment of a great act on their behalf.  (The church today should take note)!

John the Baptist, in fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy made about 700 years before Christ’s birth, heralded our need to prepare for our Savior’s earthly ministry.  Those with ears to hear heeded John’s words spoken in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the LORD!” (Isaiah 40:3; Luke 3:4)                    

Our omniscient Lord has in His word forewarned every soul that “has an ear” for His truth to be spiritually prepared, as today’s topic Scripture says. He has warned His people throughout the ages of the reality of persecution on account of obeying His truth.  Be prepared, Luke 21:12-15 says.  We could all wish that times of persecution were limited to the pages of the Bible and/ or Foxe’s Book of Martyrs—but that is simply not the case!  What are we called by our God to do in light of such sobering realities?  I give you Ephesians 6:13—“…take up the WHOLE ARMOR of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done ALL, to stand.”  
       
Prayer:  Dear Abba, may we Your kingdom people, take seriously Your warning to well utilize the time before the imminent return of Christ Jesus.  He is returning for a prepared people, not one that has blended in with the Gospel-rejecting world!  Amen!

(by Denise Diggs)