Whenever He Comes
Scripture: Luke 12:35-48
35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready…47 A servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” (Luke 12:35-38, 47-48 NLT)
As he finished teaching about right values, generosity, and trusting God, Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate the importance of preparedness and responsibility. There’s so much in this story about responsibility and preparedness and alertness and reward for successful, faithful service and punishment for laziness and irresponsibility that I really got bogged down in it!
I know that my devotionals consistently lean to the “responsible, faithful service” side of the equation. It’s how my brain works and how my heart is focused. It’s why I call GraceNotes “devotions for disciples”. But I don’t want these things to be heavy and burdensome to us. Following Jesus isn’t meant to be a “walk in the park”, in fact sometimes it’s definitely a “slog through the wilderness”, but it’s also a joyful journey for a Jesus-following believer.
The thing that stood out to me most today is verse 48. The person who doesn’t know what to do and messes up isn’t treated the same as the one who really knows better and then simply doesn’t bother to make the effort. “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” That’s fair! We can live with that!
Prayer:
Father, Thank you that we can be assured that everything that comes to us from your hand is motivated by the same love that caused you to send your son Jesus to redeem us. And thank you that no matter what loss or harm we face, from the evil intent of others, from the consequences of our own choices, or simply from the hard passages of life itself, you will be with us, and you will never leave us or forsake us. Amen!