Ready for Soon

Ready for Soon

Revelation 22: ⁶ Then the angel said to me, “These words are true and can be trusted. And the Lord God, who gives his Spirit to the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must happen very soon.”

⁷ “Listen!” says Jesus. “I am coming soon! Happy are those who obey the prophetic words in this book!”

 

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Waiting on the bus in the cold seemed like a bad idea to me. We were on the corner of a fast food restaurant. I heard someone say “The bus is coming soon.” But I figured I would go inside the restaurant to warm up. I got distracted and was not looking as attentively. The bus came and went and I was left waiting.

 

• I did not believe I would miss the bus.
• I figured that I had been miserable long enough, so I took matters in my own hands.
• I made a mistake by looking for temporary comfort when I should have remained ready.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, heard directly from HIM. “Listen!” JESUS said with urgency. “I AM coming soon! Happy are those who obey the prophetic words in this book!”

 

My Observations:

• JESUS said HE will return soon so I should act like it could be any day now.
• JESUS said to obey the prophecies shown to John which should change my actions.
• JESUS wants me to have a blessing, so HE told all of us what HE is going to do.

 

Hatred makes me not ready. I mean, when I am busy hating other people, I miss the bus of serving GOD’s people with love. I may get distracted by trying to prove his or her wrong, justifying my sinful activity. BUT GOD wants me ready.

 

But what does ready look like? Ready means believing that I need a Savior to confess my sins to. HE will then give me the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me, to guide me to serve those HE is seeking to redeem. I look forward to JESUS return, but until then I will serve those HE sends me to or sends to me.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the angel said “These words are true and can be trusted” to the writer?
• Have you ever missed out on something because you stopped waiting?
• Will you refocus your thinking so you can remain ready for CHRIST by serving those HE is seeking to redeem?

Ready At All Times

Ready At All Times

1 Peter 3: Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, ¹⁶ but do it with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are insulted, those who speak evil of your good conduct as followers of Christ will become ashamed of what they say. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if this should be God's will, than for doing evil. 

 

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Furious at the people who “attacked” me at work, I thought of ways to fight back. A thought crossed my mind to ask GOD to beat my enemies up. I had the justification because the attack was unprovoked.

 

• All I could think about was “getting even.”
• My performance started slipping because I wanted to fight.
• I lost sleep due to thinking of the actions of other people.

 

Peter provided some necessary words to those who were being chased by their religious leaders who wanted to kill them because of their belief in CHRIST. Petr suggested that they “be ready” to present the Gospel with gentleness, respect and a clear conscience.

 

My Observations:

• Thinking of evil retaliation can grow hatred and bitterness in my heart.
• Getting back at someone makes me “not ready” to explain the Gospel.
• Practicing GOD’s love and peace makes me “ready to answer” questions about HIS love.

 

Retaliation is not my job, BUT GOD’s. I mean, HE said “Vengeance is min, I will repay.” When HE used these words, HE did not include me in the “how” part of the method of repaying. So where does that leave me?

 

HE want my heart to “be ready” to show HIS love. HE desires that I explain the love of HIS SON in a non-combative respectful way. This way I can keep my conscience clear and let go of any hatred that may be growing in my heart. I am glad GOD gives me a way to let go of bitterness and to “be ready” when HE sends someone to me.

 

Challenge

• What hope is the writer talking about?
• Have you ever had a chance to show peace but you lost your patience and showed frustration or complaints?
• Would you listen to the Gospel from someone who is complaining or combative?
• Will you consider walking more in peace so you can “be ready” to present the Gospel with gentleness and respect today?

Ready for Action

Ready for Action

1 Peter 1: ¹³ So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴ Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. ¹⁵ Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. ¹⁶ The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.”

 

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Feeling that I needed some “relief” from the pressures of work, I decided to go to the party. After that decision, I decided to do other things that wound up being more distractions from life. When I woke up on Monday, I realized, I had not studied at all for the quiz.

 

• I was not ready.
• I blamed the quiz on not being ready.
• I felt worse because I was not ready and now I had more pressure that required “relief.”

 

Peter tried to get everyone off a vicious cycle of not being ready. He provides a path of “readiness” that includes hope, blessing, obedience and holiness. These actions will provide rewards from CHRIST.

 

My Observations:

• Sin distracts me away from the peace of GOD, and I start to lose hope
• Disobedience causes me to challenge GOD which in turn blinds me from HIS blessings.
• Various desires stay top of mind, causing me to remain ignorant of who GOD really is.

 

Spiritual blindness and deafness are the result of not listening to GOD. I mean, when I go too long doing things “my” way, I stop listening to GOD, who has a better way. HE allows me to commit as many sins as I would like. HE warns me of the consequences and is just to bring judgment on me if I disobey. BUT GOD has grace that I do not understand.

 

HE gives me a better path that I can follow. JESUS lived a perfect life. HE is my example. HE lived in “holiness” and suggests that I do the same. The enemy wants me to act contrary to JESUS. I am glad HE gave me many examples of how to live an abundant life.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer mention the mind?
• Have you ever thought of a plan to give yourself pleasure or “relief” from the pressures of this world?
• Have you considered that not every plan you think of is good for you?
• Will you consider placing all of you plans, thoughts and desires before the LORD and allow HIM to guide you to a better path today?

 

Readiness

 

Readiness

Ephesians 6: ¹⁴ So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, ¹⁵ and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace.

 

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“Where is the rest of the presentation?” was the question that caught me by surprise. A senior leader was practicing and my part was incomplete. I had to make up something to keep the situation from boiling over. I blamed it on the technology and said I will try to “recover” it soon.

 

• I was not ready with the truth.
• I was not ready with what I was supposed to be doing.
• I was not ready to take on responsibility and I flew by the seat of my pants.

 

“Stand ready” were the words of inspiration Paul gave everyone. Life had become hard for many, and people were getting discouraged. They turned to exaggerations, faking it until they made it and would no longer speak about JESUS, rather their own pursuits.

 

My Observations

• Life’s situations can take me away from GOD’s truth when I am not ready.
• I will turn to ways that are unrighteous unless I get ready.
• My own pursuits, desires and dreams can keep me too busy to open my mouth for the “Good News of peace.”

 

“Stand ready” means I have gotten into a position where I am ready. I mean, I needed to have already changed my mind to serve GOD before life’s storms hit. When life comes at me, then I can “Stand ready” versus falling down.

 

GOD wants me to stay away from the world’s manipulations so I can accept HIS righteousness, and so HE can put me in places where I can speak the “Good News of peace.” I am glad GOD puts me on HIS path to “Stand Ready” versus getting ready someday.

 

Challenge

• What do you think the writer means by “readiness?”
• Is there another path to self-preservation in this passage?
• Will you protect yourself against life’s challenges by becoming more prepared to speak about the “Good News of peace” which is the salvation through belief in JESUS today?

Ready and Willing

Ready and Willing

2 Corinthians 9: There is really no need for me to write you about the help being sent to God's people in Judea. ² I know that you are willing to help, and I have boasted of you to the people in Macedonia. “The believers in Achaia,” I said, “have been ready to help since last year.” Your eagerness has stirred up most of them. ³ Now I am sending these believers, so that our boasting about you in this matter may not turn out to be empty words. But, just as I said, you will be ready with your help. 

 

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It was time for the missions trip. We drove to the area and when we arrived I noticed a certain flag that represented hatred on a few of the houses. “I don’t know how effective I will be here” I thought to myself. That week we redid a broken down house. I had to pick the couple up who owned the house, so I prayed with them. I was glad to leave but I was also glad I went.

 

• I was very concerned about being in an unwelcome place.
• I questioned “Why me” instead of someone else being sent to this place of sneers.
• I went, but did not go back.

 

Paul spoke about the willingness of many people who went to serve. He went through some very difficult times and knew those who were called to go and serve others for the LORD would face similar issues. He was excited to talk about their willingness to serve.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to be ready to speak about HIS SON to whoever HE sends me to.
• GOD wants me to be willing to serve others to bring them to HIM.
• GOD wants me to be able to put my fears to the side to speak about JESUS in strange places.

 

Speaking about JESUS is not always comfortable. I mean, there are many settings where I can’t seem to bring up HIS name. GOD seems to want people who are willing to mention the love of JESUS in spite of criticism, or social conditions.

 

Politicians may try to steal the name of JESUS and people may even mention HIS name. BUT GOD stirs the heart of those who are HIS and sends them to spread the Good News about JESUS. It may not be comfortable, but I am willing to press forward to bring people back to HIM.

 

Challenge

• Do you see what the writer is excited about in this passage?
• What help do you think the writer is speaking about?
• What do you think the ultimate goal is when being sent?
• Will you accept your calling to be sent by GOD to speak on behalf of JESUS today?

Something to Say

Something to Say

Acts 21: ³⁷ As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

 

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. ³⁸ “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago?”

 

³⁹ Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

 

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“We need you to go on stage and tell everyone about the new service” one of the higher-ups said. Up until this point I had a lot of opinions about it and voiced them regularly. Now that I had to speak about the new service, I felt speechless.

 

• There were times when I had to prepare myself with something to say.
• There were times when I had to study to have something to say.
• There were times when I had to be forced to have something to say.

 

Paul asked the commander “May I say something to you?” He had an explanation on his mind that he was prepared for. Paul had no idea he would be in this situation, so how could he be prepared? He probably remembered the other beatings and imprisonments and knew if he’d ever got into this position again he would be ready with something to say.

 

• GOD wants me to always be prepared to say something on HIS behalf.
• GOD wants me ready to speak about JESUS in a moment’s notice.
• GOD wants me to place HIS love in my heart so I can always speak from the heart versus thinking of what to say.

 

Experiencing GOD’s grace gives me something to say all the time. I mean, when I open my eyes to what GOD has done today, I can say something about HIS grace that I may not have seen yesterday.

 

GOD wants me to accept HIS life of purpose in teaching people about JESUS as the only Savior. This may cause turmoil to some and eternal comfort to others. BUT GOD is please when I have something to say about JESUS. I am glad HE gives me something to say.

 

• What would your last words be?
• Would you continue with trying to get your way or hold onto that argument if you were on your death bed?
• Will you practice your last words with everyone, teaching others about the love of JESUS being the solution to all issues today?

Ready to Go

Ready to Go

Acts 13: Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ² As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

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“LORD, what do YOU want me to do ?” was finally a sincere question I had asked. Up until then, I wanted raises and promotions and new cars. Within a week, the reorg was announced. Days later I was told I would be moving to another state.

• There were times when I had to get in the right mind to serve.
• There were times when I had to clear my thoughts in order to hear GOD.
• There were times when I had to be ready for anything in order to be used by GOD.

As the group gathered in Antioch were fasting and ministering to the LORD, the HOLY SPIRIT called Barnabas and Saul for a special work. The group obeyed so they fasted, prayed, laid hands on them and sent them. Fasting may have taken days but they were ready right away.

• GOD wants me to be ready to go where HE wants me to go at a moment’s notice.
• GOD wants me to know that I am sent versus complacent.
• GOD wants me to prepare for HIS journey when HE calls me to a work.

“Preparation” is the action GOD wants when HE calls. Rather than a fight for complacency, HE wants readiness to touch other lives through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT. GOD is always ready to send harvesters, but knows  the laborers are few.

GOD wants me to sincerely ask “LORD, what do YOU want me to do ?” so HE can decide where and when HE wants me to go and plant HIS seeds. Other people are waiting on my gifts and talents. I am glad GOD includes me in HIS plans.

• Are you being sent?
• Does GOD want you to meet new people so you can fast and pray for them?
• Will you accept GOD’s calling and prepare for where HE is sending you to do HIS work?