Greetings everyone and welcome to today's edition of ....
Learn and Grow with Jesus EVERYDAY
Today's Topic is: Readiness and Preparedness
Date: Thursday, February 4th, 2021
Bible Reading: Luke 12:35-40 NIV
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Luke 12:35-40 NIV
Discussion Question: Are you ready?
Readiness and Preparedness are two important characteristics of anticipation. Just like sprinters on their marks waiting for the sound of the gun to sprint towards the finish line, we are reminded today to take our positions, be on our marks, be absolutely vigilant and ready to dash to meet our Master at the sound of the trumpet of Christ.
Preparedness precedes readiness. Preparedness is the absolute prerequisite for readiness. You can never be ready for what you did not invest the time, effort, energy and resources to be prepared for. When you consider the amount of preparation involved just to be ready to run a marathon, you will have a very respectful appreciation of those who apply themselves to the grind to run the marathon.
The marathon is a long-distance race with an official distance of 26.22 miles or 42.195 kilometres, usually run as a road race, through the most unforgiving terrain that is sure to test your endurance, perseverance, dedication, commitment, patience and resolve. The marathon is not a small feat by any stretch and it takes months of strenuous ardent preparation to be ready to run one. And most of the time, many who put themselves through the grind in preparation find out that their preparation was not enough as they fall short and give up in the first few miles of the race.
It is the ultimate test of your endurance, perseverance, dedication, commitment, patience and resolve. It is so grueling and unforgiving that you must give it your 100% and nothing less to make it. Finishing a marathon is one thing and winning the marathon is another. Many put themselves to the grind just to finish it and still fall short. Now, imagine what it would take to not just finish one, but to win it. That is the kind of preparation Jesus is telling us that is required of us to overcome all the obstacles life will haul at us as we patiently wait for His return.
To put things in perspective for you, you don't prepare for a marathon, you train for it. Mere preparation will not cut it at all. For many runners, the desire to do a marathon is about personal challenge. You must test your limits to prove that you can go the distance. It takes months to train just for one marathon and one fundamental strategy for a successful marathon training is planning. You must sit down and plan your training routine over several months before the marathon. It is so critical to articulate a plan or find an effective plan that helps you gradually build up your mileage and endurance while incorporating enough rest to prevent overuse injuries. That is key.
You must also be prepared both physically and mentally for what to expect during the marathon. Just finishing the event is a huge accomplishment itself, that is why experts recommend that marathoners focus more on finishing the race and having a good experience rather than trying to run too hard.
Our preparation for the return of Jesus is no different. We must take the time to plan or strategize on how to overcome and remain steadfast until He returns. The Lord's return is akin to a marathon. We don't know how long we have to run the race until we see the finish line. It is a long, winding treacherous road. It is bound to test the limits of our endurance, perseverance, dedication, commitment, patience and resolve. Many will fall short because of inadequate preparation and supplies. Remember the ten virgins. Five were foolish because they didn't bring extra oil for the lamps to go the distance. Five were wise because they planned and brought extra supplies to last the duration of the distance. The fact that they were virgins didn't matter. They fact that they all waited didn't matter. What mattered and made all the difference was their dexterity with planning, and bringing extra supplies. That is why Jesus is telling us here to be dressed ready and keep our lamps burning.
If you keep your eyes on the goal you will make it. If you take the time to plan your training regime and commit to it you will make it. If you know the supplies you will need along the way and make adequate provisions for it, you will make it. If you apply yourself and keep at it no matter how long the race, you will make it. Anticipation drives our commitment to preparation and readiness. If you are not expectant, you would not commit to prepare for anything. The difference between the crowds that rubbed on Jesus and the woman with the issue of blood was expectation. Her expectation for a miracle was the vehicle that delivered the miracle with a simple contact. If you are not expecting a guest in your home, you would not stress yourself with cleaning and preparing a special meal for your guest.
Please stay expectant for as surely as the sun rises every morning, Jesus is on His way back. Occupy until He returns. Blessed are those He will find ready. Will that be you? It's your call.
Stay uplifted in Christ always and live cheerfully everyday
Leader Chinedu Nicholas Obodo for EXOLOM Fellowship. Find us at exolom.com
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